General Information About Beijing Capital International Airport

General Information at Beijing Capital International Airport Beijing Capital International Airport, commonly referred to as Peking Airport, is China's busiest and largest airport. Situated 32 km (20 mi) northeast of Beijing city center, this second-busiest passenger traffic airport also serves as China's primary gateway.

Operating base of 66 domestic and foreign airline companies serving 69 cities within China and 88 outside, there are over 5,000 scheduled flights daily from there.

Terminal 1 (T1), opened its doors for business on January 1, 1980 to replace the small terminal building used since 1958. It features 16 gates.

Terminals 1 and 2 offer free shuttle buses a 24-hours a day between them, departing every 15 minutes. Furthermore, interprovincial shuttles travel throughout Beijing's various districts such as Fangzhuang, Xidan, Beijing Railway Station Gongzhufen Zhongguancun etc.

Under construction is a ten-mile light rail line which will connect Beijing airport with Dongzhimen Light-Rail Station. This will make traveling between them significantly faster than using taxis which typically take one hour for this trip.

This terminal boasts an expansive 45,200 m2 commercial area (twice the size of Lufthansa Shopping Centre Beijing) filled with food and beverage outlets as well as duty-free stores and convenience services.

As passenger traffic volumes increase, Beijing International Airport is currently undertaking expansions and upgrades to meet rising passenger traffic demand. Three major capacity expansions are under way at present. Unfortunately, designed capacities often outstrip actual ones due to factors like flight schedules, tight airspace resources, and congestion in Beijing.

How to Get From Beijing Capital International Airport to Beijing Center

There are various methods available for traveling between Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) and central Beijing, such as taxis, buses and subway trains. Before setting out on any journey it's a good idea to review all available distances and fares as there are many cost-effective solutions to consider.

Taxis from BCIA to city centre

Cabs can be an efficient means of travel when time is of the essence or you need to be transported quickly from BCIA. Fares will depend on traffic conditions, but should take roughly 40 minutes.

Bus from BCIA to City Centre

One of the cheapest ways of traveling from the airport to the city centre is via bus. A variety of lines connect various districts within the city with each other and take approximately an hour; tickets cost anywhere between Y=15-30 one way.

If you want something quicker, the Airport Express Train may also be your perfect transportation solution. Traveling on this train will bring you directly into Beijing center in less than an hour at an approximate cost of Y=25 (although more costly than taking the bus).

Option 2 is taking an Airport Shuttle Bus into downtown. These 13 routes travel throughout different areas of the city and leave from various points inside the airport, such as T3's Ground Floor counter or Gates 7-9 of T2, or T1 Gates 7 and 11.

Tickets can be purchased directly from bus drivers, manual ticket offices or vending machines with Chinese and English service, or using Beijing Transportation Smart Cards at ticket vending machines for one-way fare discounts.

On September 26, Daxing Airport's brand new subway line between Caoqiao Station and Daxing airport was unveiled, providing access to its north terminal within 19 minutes. Operating between 6 am and 22 30 every day, schedules can be altered according to flight arrival times each night.

At peak hours, subway lines can become congested quickly. To avoid any rush-hour-like circumstances and ensure you can travel smoothly to your flight departure on time. Allow several hours prior to your flight departure.

At terminals 1-3 there are three business centers offering high-speed WiFi, printing equipment and computer terminals - ideal for planning travel itineraries or sending messages back home to loved ones.

Terminals 1 and 2 at Beijing Capital International Airport offer post offices which sell postage, postcards, books and major newspapers between 7am-8pm daily for convenient last-minute purchases for your trip.

Beijing Capital International Airport has long been recognized as an exceptional travel hub, due to the significant investments that have gone into improving it over time. As China modernizes, this world-class airport should continue its rise in popularity.

Beijing Capital International Airport Amenities & Services

BCIA is a world-class travel hub. The airport has invested significantly to enhance passenger experiences, offering an outstanding selection of eateries, shops, banks, disabled and business facilities to enhance passenger satisfaction.

Food & Beverages

On Level 2 (Domestic Departures), there is an array of restaurants, cafes and bars both before and after security that provide both Chinese and Western fare. Cafes, bakeries, tea houses and international fast-food chains with menu items ranging from burgers to steamed dumplings are also readily available for those hungry passengers who arrive by plane.

Beijing Capital International Airport offers an abundance of duty-free shops offering an assortment of Chinese liquor, traditional clothing, watches and electronics products; in addition to numerous souvenir shops.

Banking & Currency Exchange

At the airport there are five Chinese banks operating full service branches offering an array of banking and currency exchange services. These include foreign exchange, credit cards, domestic/international remittance services, travellers cheque exchange and passport/visa services.

Luggage Storage

Each terminal building offers left luggage services on the arrivals floor; cost ranges from 10 RMB for small hand luggage up to 50 RMB per suitcase.

Taxis can be found at every terminal building during daytime hours with flag down fares of CNY 13, rising to CNY 2.3 per km after 23:00. Travel time to the city center takes around 50 minutes and costs roughly CNY 100.

Hourly Hotel - Terminals feature various "hourly hotels", with standard rooms with bathrooms available to travelers at various rates; single standard room rates tend to range between RMB 500-550 per 4-6 hour stay and shared rooms without bathrooms can cost approximately RMB 300 for 4-5 hour stays, according to reviews of these establishments.