Transport · Airports · PEK
北京首都国际机场 · PEK / ZBAA. Beijing's main international gateway with three terminals, an Airport Express train, and 72/144-hour transit visa exemptions.
About this airport
Beijing Capital International Airport opened its original terminal in 1959 and expanded dramatically ahead of the 2008 Olympics, when Terminal 3 — at the time the largest airport building in the world by floor area — opened to handle the surge in visitors. The airport sits roughly 25 kilometres northeast of Tiananmen Square in Chaoyang and Shunyi districts.
The three terminals operate on different levels of modernity. T3, designed by Norman Foster and Partners with Arup, is a long, dragon-spine structure with a distinctive red-and-gold colour scheme. Natural light floods the main hall through a glass roof. Wayfinding is good by Chinese standards, with clear English signage. T2, the older international terminal, is functional but showing its age.
PEK serves as the primary hub for Air China and as a significant base for China Southern and China Eastern. With the opening of Beijing Daxing (PKX) in 2019, some routes have migrated south, but Capital remains the busier of the two for now. Layover quality is adequate for short waits; for stays over six hours, transit passengers eligible for the TWOV should consider heading into the city rather than remaining airside.
Terminals
Three terminals: T1 (domestic, rarely used), T2 (domestic and some international), T3 (Norman Foster–designed flagship, most international routes). T2 and T3 are connected by a free shuttle bus; allow 30 minutes between them.
Transit to the city
Airport Express train runs from T3 and T2 to Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao stations in about 20 minutes (CNY 25). Taxis to central Beijing cost roughly CNY 90–130 and take 40–60 minutes depending on traffic. Avoid unlicensed touts in arrivals; join the official queue outside the hall.
Priority Pass lounges
Food
T3 has a reasonable range: noodle bars, a Burger King, several congee counters, and a couple of sit-down restaurants serving Peking duck portions. Quality is airport-standard. Prices are 30–50% higher than the city. Grab-and-go options thin out after midnight.
Sleep options
No dedicated airside hotel. The Regal Airport Hotel connects to T2 via covered walkway and is a reliable option for early-morning or late-night flights. Airside, the only rest option is terminal seating; the T3 departure hall has benches near gates.
Transit visa-free rules
Beijing Capital is one of the designated ports for China's 72-hour (and 144-hour for eligible nationalities) Transit Without Visa (TWOV) scheme. Eligible passengers must hold a confirmed onward ticket departing within the time limit and may not leave Beijing municipality. A separate 24-hour TWOV applies at city level for some nationalities. Check CGWIC lists before travel as eligibility changes.