PEK Airport Transfer | Beijing Capital International

Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA: PEK) is 32 kilometres north-east of the Forbidden City and until 2019 handled all international arrivals into Beijing; traffic is now shared with Beijing Daxing (PKX) further south. Terminal 3 at PEK, opened for the 2008 Olympics, is one of the largest passenger terminals in the world and can add 15–20 minutes of internal walking between gate and arrivals hall. The Capital Airport Express light rail runs from PEK to Dongzhimen in approximately 20 minutes for a flat fare. Official metered taxis queue at the ground-level rank outside arrivals. Booking in advance through LocalsRide locks the USD fare and places an English-speaking driver at the arrivals meet-and-greet point with your name displayed.

PEK Transfer Times

Wangfujing and Tiananmen Square: 28 km, 45–65 min. Sanlitun embassy and nightlife district: 26 km, 40–60 min. Chaoyang CBD and China World Trade Center: 24 km, 40–60 min. Houhai lake and hutong area: 30 km, 45–70 min. Financial Street (西单/Xidan): 32 km, 50–75 min. Mutianyu Great Wall: 75 km, 1.5–2 hours. Beijing South Railway Station (bullet trains): 35 km, 50–80 min.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How much is the official Beijing taxi from PEK to central districts?

Metered fares from PEK to central Beijing run 100–160 yuan (about USD 14–22) plus the expressway toll (10 yuan), with a 50% surcharge on late-night runs. Peak-hour queues exceed 30 minutes and drivers rarely speak English. A LocalsRide private car from USD 32 avoids the queue and quotes a fixed USD fare including the toll.

Which Beijing airport is my flight actually using — PEK or PKX?

Check the three-letter IATA code. PEK is the legacy Capital Airport 32 km north-east; PKX is Daxing 46 km south, opened 2019. Transfers between PEK and PKX take 1.5–2.5 hours through the city. Same-day transit passengers should book a confirmed ground transfer rather than rely on public transport.