Beijing Capital Airport Transfer (PEK)

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Metered fares from the official PEK taxi rank to central Beijing typically run 100–160 yuan (about USD 14–22) plus the airport expressway toll (10 yuan), before tips. Drivers add 3 yuan per kilometre after the first 3 kilometres and a 50% surcharge applies on late-night journeys. The queue at peak arrival hours (18:00–22:00) often exceeds 30 minutes and drivers rarely speak English. A LocalsRide private car from USD 32 avoids the queue and removes the language barrier — the fare is quoted in USD upfront and includes the expressway toll.

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

Check the three-letter IATA code on your ticket. PEK is the legacy Capital Airport north-east of the city; PKX is Beijing Daxing 46 kilometres south, opened 2019, served by a different expressway and a separate Daxing Airport Express metro line. The two airports are not connected by a short shuttle — transferring between PEK and PKX takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours through central Beijing. Same-day transit passengers arriving at one airport and departing from the other should book a confirmed ground transfer rather than rely on public transport.