Choose the route from your actual airport
Beijing Capital (PEK, 首都国际机场) is northeast of the city; Beijing Daxing (PKX, 北京大兴国际机场) is to the south. They are separate airports, not two terminals of one airport. Before leaving arrivals, check the airport code, terminal, hotel address in Chinese and the last useful connection for your arrival time.
| Airport | Rail starting point | City-side handoff | Check before boarding |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEK | Capital Airport Express at the signed airport station | Dongzhimen (东直门) or another relevant interchange | Terminal access, direction, last train and your onward subway leg |
| PKX | Daxing Airport Express at the airport station | Caoqiao (草桥) or another relevant interchange | Service status, destination, last train and the final connection |
These are route references, not a promise of a through train to your hotel. The best city-side interchange depends on the hotel, luggage and whether the onward subway is still running. Open the airport rail guide and your map before buying a ticket.
If you land at PEK
Follow the signs for the Capital Airport Express from your arrival terminal. Check the station entrance and train direction on the current airport signs; do not rely on a gate number or pickup location copied from an old article. At Dongzhimen, compare the onward subway with a licensed taxi for the final leg. A hotel near a different interchange may be easier to reach by a different combination than an article's generic “downtown” route.
For a late flight, check the actual last train before you queue for rail tickets. If it no longer fits your arrival and transfer, use the official taxi queue or the ride-hailing pickup shown in your app. Airport vehicle zones can move, so follow the current signs and confirm the vehicle plate before boarding.
If you land at PKX
Follow airport signs for the Daxing Airport Express if Caoqiao and its onward connection suit your hotel. Do not confuse the metro with intercity rail: they have different tickets, destinations and boarding procedures. If considering an intercity train, check its exact train, station and availability on Railway 12306 before planning around it.
PKX is far enough from many central destinations that the final leg matters. A rail trip can still require another subway line or a taxi after reaching the city. Save the destination in Chinese, check the last usable connection, and keep a road option if luggage or a delayed arrival makes a transfer impractical.
Taxi, ride-hailing and the return trip
Use a licensed taxi queue or the pickup point displayed by your ride-hailing service. Ignore unsolicited car offers inside the terminal. For ride-hailing, match the plate and destination in the app; for a taxi, show the Chinese hotel address and keep the receipt. Fares vary with distance, traffic and service type, so compare the current meter or app quote rather than an old fixed price.
For the flight home, reverse-check the plan: confirm PEK versus PKX on the ticket, the terminal, first useful train, airline check-in deadline and time needed for the airport walk. A route that worked on arrival may not work for an early departure. Airport, metro and airline notices on your travel day take precedence over this guide.
Editorial note: The earlier long article included fixed fares, last-train times and pickup gates that were not verified for current operations. Those claims have been removed. Reviewed 9 October 2026.
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