Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is a design dream of incredible architecture. Foster and Partners architects designed the dragon-like terminal building to impress international guests arriving for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and it doesn’t disappoint. The first time I flew through here, I came specifically to see the design and it was worth the trip. Even now, after all these years, the design holds up and it is still magnificent to behold.
Just about 32 km northeast of the city centre is where PEK, the busiest airport in Asia, is located. It is a mere 20-minute drive from Beijing, making it a wise choice to use when flying in and out of the city. It’s an especially great airport to use if you have a hotel or company car service, as it's so close to town.
You can take a taxi, rideshare or car service between the airport and the city, and this will take 20 minutes. There is often heavy traffic here, so more time should be allocated as a buffer, though. This option is fairly inexpensive in Beijing.
Of course, if you happen to have a rental car, there are many giant highways connecting the city and the countryside to this major airport. Keep in mind that roads are busy here in the capital, so I usually find myself opting to book drivers instead of navigating the traffic myself.
It’s also more difficult to rent a car China anyway—you need to reserve one through a travel agency and receive special permission from the government. Only Chinese citizens are allowed to rent cars in China without prior approval, so plan ahead if you really want your own vehicle during your time here.
The best way to travel between the city centre and Beijing Capital International Airport is on the Airport Express Train, which directly connects the two. This inexpensive train runs from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at PEK and will take you to the Dongzhimen subway station. The ride will take you less than 40 minutes. From there, you can take the subway throughout the city from Dongzhimen.
To reach the airport, there are also at least 18 bus options that leave from various points throughout the city. My preference is the Beijing Railway Station option, which takes about 30 minutes and runs from 7 am to roughly 9 pm, but you can also just choose the one closest to you.
This gorgeous airport has three terminals and they are all connected by shuttle bus. You’ll find SkyTeam airlines at Terminal 2, and oneworld, Star Alliance and Air China at Terminal 3. Terminal 1 is home to other important Chinese Airlines like China Southern and has been recently redone. It joins Terminal 2 by a connected walkway that takes a mere few minutes to travel.
Overall, the airport runs smoothly with so many things done well that I find this airport to be better than most for a layover. Terminal 3 is my personal favourite, with a flurry of fantastic food choices.
Terminal 3 is hotel-like—you can send postcards, eat delicious food and find plenty of places to sit down and rest comfortably. It even has winter clothing and gear lockers in case you’ve come from skiing and will continue to explore the country. You can also have a foot massage at Le SPA at Gate 28 in Terminal 3.
There are ATM machines on both land and air side at PEK. If you’re searching for a bank, head to the second or fourth floor of Terminal 3, where you’ll find full-service branches. These are open from 9 am to 5 pm. Currency exchange booths are scattered throughout all the terminals, and these are open 24 hours every day.
Another fantastic feature of this airport is dressing rooms. These are available in the baggage claim areas of both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, and include mirrors, chairs, tables and very convenient hooks so you can change out of your travel clothes before journeying onward. I have used these when in a rush to get to meetings straight off the plane from the US.
In line with many of the world’s newer and more updated airports, this fantastic airport has beautiful art all over. There are two indoor gardens—Suzhou Garden and Royal Garden—at Terminal 3. In the gardens, take a minute to feed the fish (it’s free, when available) or just stop by during feeding times to see the spectacle.
Terminal 2 also has an underwater world worth seeing, and I always enjoy passing through the starry corridor in Terminal 3. I have been through this airport and seen these impressive sights many times, but I visit them again and again as I like to keep moving instead of spending the whole time sitting and waiting.
PEK has it all, from the big brands chains to more regional cuisine, and also some local Chinese favourites. Tai Hing, in Terminal 3, is a Hong Kong style restaurant where I love to stop for some dumplings and soup before getting on a flight. For something a little different try Kafelaku Coffee, where they serve the internationally famous Indonesian coffee, kopi luwak—I'll let you discover this on your own. They are located in Terminal 2.
Admittedly, this airport’s lounges have not been recently revamped and are not as excellent as the ones in some other parts of the world. But they are still great if you just need a place to grab a bite and do some work in a more comfortable environment than the gates. In my opinion, the best lounge at PEK is the Air China Business Class lounge in Terminal 3.
PEK has a free Wi-Fi network. In order to access it you will need to verify your passport to receive an access code. The process is easy and you will be able to connect to high speed internet without issue. However, note that the connection, as in so many airports, is not secure. Therefore, be mindful not to access banking apps or personal and sensitive materials while connected to this network.
One of the great features this airport offers is the 144-hour visa-free program. Visitors from 53 countries can travel to Beijing (and only Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei) without a Chinese visa, but you can only stay for up to 144 hours and you must have a ticket with an onward flight. Among the countries are many European ones, 6 Asian, Australia, and of course, Canada, the US, and the UK.
My favourite feature is that you can fill out the paperwork for this limited entry permission directly on arrival and receive it right away. It’s a great way to pop in and explore Beijing without having to first arrange an expensive Chinese visa before your trip.
PEK is a giant airport and there are often conditions and schedules that will require you to spend the night. Luckily there re plenty of options for this, and there are also hotels for slightly shorter periods of time.
There are hourly hotels offering small suites in all three terminals and these are called “hourly lounges.” Similarly, there are GoSleep pods in both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. These are basically chairs with noise blocking, and you can charge your devices inside the pod while you rest. These also rent for an hour or more.
One of the star qualities of this nonstop airport is that PEK guarantees that you will be able to receive your luggage within five minutes of deplaning the aircraft so you’ll never be stuck waiting at baggage claim. And, if you’re planning to travel around China but have some things you don’t want to lug with you, there are luggage storage areas available.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
The day with the most flights departing from Beijing Capital Airport is generally Monday, with an average of 6 flights leaving the airport.
IATA Code | PEK |
---|---|
Serves | Beijing |
Terminals | 1, 2, 3 |
Hub for | Sichuan Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Tibet Airlines |