Beijing Airport Trains — PEK & PKX Express Guide
Capital (PEK) & Daxing (PKX) airports to Beijing city — Updated 2026
Beijing has two major airports — Capital (PEK) in the north-east and Daxing (PKX)in the south. Each has its own dedicated airport express train. Capital Airport Express runs from PEK to Dongzhimen for ¥25 in 20 minutes. Daxing Airport Express runs from PKX to Caoqiao for ¥10–35 in 19 minutes at up to 160 km/h. Check your terminal before booking transport — the two airports are 50+ km apart with no direct connection.
Capital Airport Express (PEK) — 20 min
| Station | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Airport T3 | 0 min | PEK — international + most domestic |
| Capital Airport T2 | +3 min | Domestic + some international |
| Sanyuanqiao | ~16 min | Transfer to Metro Line 10 |
| Dongzhimen | ~20 min | Final stop — Metro Lines 2 + 13, bus hub |
Daxing Airport Express (PKX) — 19 min, up to 160 km/h
| Station | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daxing Airport (PKX) | 0 min | Departure — Terminal basement |
| Caoqiao | ~19 min | Transfer to Metro Lines 10 + 19 |
| Lize Business District | ~26 min | New CBD — Metro Lines 14 + 16 |
| Beijing West Railway | ~35 min | High-speed trains nationwide |
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Train vs Taxi vs Didi
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Airport Express (PEK) | ¥25 | 20 min | PEK → Dongzhimen — best for downtown north |
| Daxing Airport Express (PKX) | ¥10–35 | 19 min | PKX → Caoqiao — fastest to Lize CBD + west Beijing |
| Metro Line 19 + transfer | ¥7–9 | 70+ min | PKX cheapest — slow |
| Taxi PEK → CBD | ¥100–130 | 40–60 min | Door to door, late nights |
| Taxi PKX → CBD | ¥200–280 | 60–90 min | PKX is 46 km south — costly |
| Didi (ride-hail) | ¥110–290 | PEK 40–60 / PKX 60–90 | English app, transparent fares |
FAQ
Which Beijing airport is closer to the city — PEK or PKX?+
Beijing Capital (PEK) is the closer of the two — about 27 km north-east of central Beijing. Daxing (PKX) is 46 km south of the city, much further. PEK is also better connected by metro (Capital Airport Express + Line 15) than PKX (only the Daxing Airport Express). However, PKX is the newer, larger airport and many international carriers (especially Chinese Eastern routes) operate from PKX. Always check your terminal — PEK and PKX are 50+ km apart and there is no direct connection between them.
How do I take the Capital Airport Express from PEK?+
At Terminal 3, take the elevator to Floor 2 (Departures level) and follow signs for the Airport Express (机场快轨). The station is between T3-C and the parking garage. At Terminal 2, the station is at the third floor of the parking building. Buy a ¥25 ticket at the vending machine (Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash, foreign cards). The train runs every 10 minutes from 06:21 to 22:51. Final stop: Dongzhimen — transfer to Metro Line 2 (for Tiananmen, Forbidden City) or Line 13.
How do I take the Daxing Airport Express from PKX?+
The PKX Airport Express station is on Floor B2 of the terminal — follow signs for "Daxing Airport Express / 大兴机场线" (purple line on metro maps). Three classes: Standard (¥35), Business (¥50), and a "city loop" reduced fare from ¥10 if you ride only one stop. Trains run 06:00 to 22:30, every 8–10 minutes peak. The train hits 160 km/h. Final stop: Caoqiao (Metro Lines 10 + 19) — 19 minutes from PKX.
Can I use a Beijing Public Transport card on the airport trains?+
Yes on both. The Yikatong (北京一卡通) transit card works on Capital Airport Express and Daxing Airport Express, and on all metro and bus services. You can also use Alipay or WeChat Pay QR codes at the gates. Foreign Visa/Mastercard work at the vending machines but not at the gates — buy a paper ticket if you do not have a Chinese mobile-pay app.
Are the trains running late at night?+
Capital Airport Express (PEK): runs until 22:51 outbound from the airport, 23:10 inbound from Dongzhimen. After that you need a taxi or Didi (¥100–130 to central Beijing). Daxing Airport Express (PKX): last train from PKX is 22:30, last train to PKX is 22:30 from Caoqiao. PKX has fewer late-night options — if you land after 22:00, plan on a taxi (¥200–280) or pre-book a transfer.
How do I transfer between PEK and PKX?+
There is no direct connection — they are 50+ km apart. Options: (1) Taxi between airports ¥350–450, 90–120 min. (2) Inter-airport coach (Line 7 from PEK to PKX) ¥40, ~2 hours, runs every 30 min between 05:30 and 23:00. (3) Metro: PEK Express → Dongzhimen → Line 2 → Beijing South → high-speed rail to Daxing Station → bus to PKX (too complex, not recommended). Always allow 3+ hours between flights if connecting between the two.
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