OK, so you’ve just landed at Beijing’s Capital International Airport (PEK). Welcome to China! So, what’s next? Into Beijing you go.
Wait. There’s got to be a way for you to get from A to B — in this case, from Beijing Airport into “the Jing”, as they say.
Beijing Airport used to be a remote outpost — far beyond the reach of any ring road until 2002. Just recently, the airport itself has been boxed up — by a ring expressway network. New towns are planned north and east of the airport.
How times have changed.
Click the image for a bigger map (Airport transit network relative to central Beijing)
Click the image for a bigger map (Airport freeway network)
Route: Airport Freeway or 2nd Airport Freeway
If your destination is more a la central Beijing — Tian’anmen, Wangfujing, Chang’an Avenue — you’ll be served by the oldie-but-goldie Airport Freeway (机场高速). The Airport Freeway is a tad more crowded — the thing’s been there for about the best part of 16 years — but it’ll get to your destination in central Beijing. If you’re staying in the hotel cluster on the northeastern 3rd Ring Road, take the Airport Freeway; it’s closer to the whole cluster.Destination: The West, Northwest, or North (e.g. the Great Wall)
Route: Airport North Freeway (机场北线)If, however, your first destination, as a matter of fact, is the Great Wall next to the reservoir in northern rural Beijing, your ticket is the Airport North Freeway (机场北线) . The Airport North Freeway links you to the Jingcheng (Beijing-Chengde) Freeway, which heads into northern rural Beijing’s Huairou District. (Not a lot of five-star hotels there.)
If you’re heading further west, you’ll need to switch on over to the 6th Ring Road heading counterclockwise when the duo (Jingcheng Freeway and 6th Ring Road) meet. This is the direction for you if you happen to be going to western Beijing’s Mentougou District. No idea where that is? Tanzhe Temple — anyone? This is supposed to be the temple in Beijing that predated Beijing.
And if you’re living next to the Great Wall (as in the Commune by the Great Wall), you’ll take the same route, except that you’ll head onto the Badaling Freeway (八达岭高速) a bit after getting on the 6th Ring Road. The Badallineing Freeway is true to its name — this is the freeway that gets you to The Wall!Access to the Airport North Freeway is a bit complex at best.
If you’re coming in from Terminal 2, you’ll need to head via Terminal 1 to connection roads to the freeway. If you hail from Terminal 3 — you’ll need to reach Terminal 2 and 1 (in that order — to the shock of mathematicians) before you set flight on the Airport North Freeway. If you’re landing in Beijing’s Terminal 1, you’re all set. Just follow the signs for the Airport North Freeway. Life sure is easy for T1-ers.
Destination: The East or Northeast (e.g. Pinggu District)
Route: Airport South Freeway followed by Jingping or Jingcheng Freeways
So what if your arrival in the Chinese capital sees peach-picking in eastern Beijing’s Pinggu District as the first must-do item on the agenda? Or where should you head to (freeway-wise) if you long to see the Great Wall at Simatai (think: mountain + Great Wall on top)?
In this case, you’ll be served well by the Airport South Freeway (机场南线). Head further east until Litian Bridge. This is where you’ll have to make up your mind.
Continue, by all means, further east if you’re headed to peach-populated Pinggu District (does this thing sound too close to the Swiss penguin comic series Pingu? Then again, we digress.) You’ll be on the Jingping (Beijing-Pinggu) Freeway before long.
But make a turn onto the 6th Ring Road headed north and head onto the Jingcheng Freeway later if you’ll be making it into Miyun — and the Great Wall at Simatai. (Actually, there are about a million and one more great scenic spots in the northeast, but we’ll leave that for another day.)
Destination: The South (e.g. Daxing)
Route: Airport South Freeway (机场南线) followed by 6th Ring Road
Got an invitation to Panggezhuang, Daxing, aka Watermelon Heaven? Or what if you’ve been invited to that great big Beijing Economic Technological Development Area in Yizhuang (亦庄)? (This actually could happen to you — especially if FDI + biz = your trip to the Chinese capital.) All those wonders are in southern Beijing.
And you’ll need to get to these places. Right. It’s time to head onto the Airport South Freeway and head further east. Once again, before long, you’re confronted with this massive Litian Bridge.
The trick here is to turn right and head clockwise onto the ringway. Before long (a la a couple dozen kilometers or more), you’ll be in southern Beijing.
Zukunftsmusik: The Airport Express (轨道交通机场线)
Click the image for a bigger map.
There are 4 stops along the express rail link: Terminal 3, Terminal 2, Sanyuanqiao (三元桥) and Dongzhimen. Dongzhimen will be the final city terminus. The Infrastructure Powers That Be, fully recognizing the current transport mélange at Dongzhimen, are putting the touching pieces to the Dongzhimen Transport Hub. The Airport Express will come into the hub on Basement Level 4, with Lines 2 and 13 a few floors above. You’ll actually be able to follow the signs and complete the interchange without ever seeing a ray of light (sun or moon). After the Games, you’ll even be able to check in your bags from Dongzhimen.And when it opens, this will be one sweet service.
Now before you daydream your way into the Airport Express — get packin’! Come to Beijing! (I know, we have a sub-optimal visa policy, but if you’re prepared in full — we should be able to see you in the capital!)
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Beijing Airport Express opens today 2:00 p.m. (Updated) 
Do you know if the Airport Express has been opened today (July 1st)?
I will be in Beijing on July 8th and need quick transport between the airport and downtown.
David’s post is really sooooo long ~ Anyway, the pictures are great :)
Any news on the actual opening date for the airport express?
Don’t forget the airport buses. They’re susceptible to traffic jams, but they’re reasonably quick and cover most of the central city. They’re also considerably cheaper than the Airport Express at only 16 yuan, and the T3 bus terminal is very clearly and simply laid out, making it easy to find the bus you need.
Do you know how long it will take from Beijing airport Terminal 3 to Fangzhuang via airport bus route 1 around 7PM weekday? Thanks!
In my experience knowing how to get out of Beijing is the much more important piece of information.
Mwuahahahahaha…excellent.
Good post. I shall try the express train on my return to the Jing.
The train to the city from T2 and T3 is now running. The fare is a flat 25 RMB, regardless of whether you get off at Sanyuanqiao or Dongzhimen. The trip from T3 takes longer than it should because you have to make the detour to T2 before you actually head into the city — that adds 10-20 minutes, depending on how long the train waits at each terminal stop. The design of the station at Dongzhimen does not seem well thought out — very narrow platform that is quickly crowded with people and their luggage, causing a backup at the escalators. And our train was not that crowded (seats available).
Does anyone know what time the train opens in the morning? I’ve got a 7:20 flight and was hoping to use the new train.
Would anyone know the stops to take in using the Airport Express to the Loong Palace Hotel at Huilongguan, Changping District?
Great Post!
So much has changed at PEK since I’ve been there. Would you happen to know what the best airport hotel is these days?
which is the closest airport to great wall of china from guangzhou?how much it cost?Is there any train to go great wall of china from guangzhou?what is the cost for it?Is there any resonable cost hotel near great wall of china?
Great wall is in Beijing. You can visit BJ from Guangzhou either by air or by train.
many time i visit in beijing little mode problem i have always i taken airport express i paid 16RMB but the journy is very nice i need i reached beiing airport to forbidden city i reached little more spend time plz guide me which subways i teken
MBC
adnan malik
Comment by M ADNAN MALIK on 2008-12-12 02:38:26
many time i visit in beijing little more problem i have always taken airport express i paid 16RMB but the journy is very nice i need reached beijing airport to china world tower reached little more spend time plz guide me which subways i taken
MBC
adnan malik
Is anyone familiar with the Seasons Park Hotel Dongcheng District
Beijing, Beijing 100027 is this accessible by the airport express and is it walking distance from the train station?
Also can we use the same station to head to the Forbidden City?
Thanks for any help.
We are arriving at Beijing International Airport & need to get to The Novotel Beijing Peace Hotel, at 3 Jinyu Hutong Wangfujing 100006 Beijing.
Please advise us what our best option is to get to the hotel from the airport.Thankyou
Hello, i will be visiting BJ on 21st june, my flight will arrive at 2300. do yo have any idea what is the last airport express service from PEK to dongzhimen? thanks