PEK serves the northeast of Beijing: its CNY 25 Capital Airport Express connects to Lines 10/12 at Sanyuanqiao, Lines 2/13 at Dongzhimen and Line 5 at Beixinqiao. PKX is south of the city: its CNY 35 ordinary Daxing Airport Express ride to Caoqiao connects to Lines 10 and 19. Choose the interchange for your hotel, then add the city fare and final walk. Use the official metered taxi queue when the full rail connection is closed, luggage makes transfers impractical or the destination is hard to find after dark.
Read PEK or PKX on your ticket before choosing transport. Daytime rail suits a hotel near a usable station and manageable transfers. A taxi suits late arrival, heavy luggage or a difficult last leg; save the full Chinese property address and agree a usable payment method before boarding.Airport-line fares and train rides are only part of the trip. Add the walk from arrivals to the platform, waiting, every city-subway connection and the final hotel entrance before choosing rail.
Airport and hotel-area comparison
Read PEK or PKX on your ticket, then find the interchange serving your actual hotel. These are route patterns, not a promise that a station is open or an exit is easy with luggage on your date.
Worked hotel area: a hotel with a usable 5–15 minute walk from a Dengshikou street exit. These rail totals use that walking assumption; they do not apply to every hotel called Wangfujing. Ask your own hotel for its Chinese name, entrance and usable exit. If the path or lift is unsuitable, use staffed station help or a taxi.
- Airport / modePEK T2 or T3 · rail
- Full route
- Capital Airport Express → Beixinqiao 北新桥 → Line 5 south → Dengshikou 灯市口 → hotel
- Adult fare / vehicle cost
- CNY 25 + CNY 3 = CNY 28 per adult; the final hotel walk is free
- Arrivals-exit-to-hotel planning allowance
- 75–125 minutes: 15–25 terminal access/ticketing + 0–10 initial wait + 55–75 platform-to-Dengshikou-exit planning band + 5–15 hotel walk
- Change the choice when
- The usable Line 5 connection has ended, the exit is unsuitable, or one luggage transfer exceeds your limit
- Airport / modePKX · rail
- Full route
- Daxing Airport Express → Caoqiao 草桥 → Line 10 toward Songjiazhuang 宋家庄 → Line 5 north → Dengshikou 灯市口 → hotel
- Adult fare / vehicle cost
- CNY 35 + CNY 5 = CNY 40 per adult; the final hotel walk is free
- Arrivals-exit-to-hotel planning allowance
- 90–140 minutes: 15–25 terminal access/ticketing + 0–10 initial wait + 70–90 platform-to-Dengshikou-exit planning band + 5–15 hotel walk
- Change the choice when
- Two luggage transfers are unsuitable, any train/corridor no longer operates, or the hotel path is unclear
- Airport / modePEK · official metered taxi
- Full route
- T2 1F outside Gates 5–9, median lane; T3 B1 signed taxi queue → exact Chinese hotel entrance
- Adult fare / vehicle cost
- Metered vehicle fare; see the worked tariff below. No verified fixed quote for this hotel
- Arrivals-exit-to-hotel planning allowance
- Budget 60–125 minutes in an editorial ordinary-traffic scenario: 10–20 rank approach + 0–30 queue + 50–75 driving. Traffic can exceed it
- Change the choice when
- Use for late arrival, difficult transfers or bags; the queue and vehicle must fit your party
- Airport / modePKX · official metered taxi
- Full route
- Signed Beijing-bound terminal 1F taxi queue → exact Chinese hotel entrance
- Adult fare / vehicle cost
- Metered vehicle fare; longer road distance changes the bill. No verified fixed quote for this hotel
- Arrivals-exit-to-hotel planning allowance
- Budget 90–150 minutes in an editorial scenario: 10–20 rank approach + 0–30 queue + 80–100 driving; not a measured road journey
- Change the choice when
- Use when the rail chain or its two changes fail; agree the correct hotel entrance before leaving
The clock starts at public arrivals after immigration and baggage. Rail bands are editorial allowances for this Dengshikou-area route, including city changes and egress; terminal access, the first wait and hotel walk are listed separately. They are not platform running times, observed luggage walks or maximum durations. Longer hotel walks, lift queues and disruptions need more time. If staying at Park Plaza, use its separate address card and route evidence →
What a metered taxi budget contains
PEK’s published tariff lists CNY 13 for the first 3 km, CNY 2.3/km thereafter, a 50% distance supplement beyond 15 km, and CNY 1 fuel charge; waiting, night charges and tolls are extra. For an explicitly assumed daytime 30 km journey, 13 + 12 × 2.3 + 15 × 3.45 + 1 = CNY 93.35 before waiting and tolls; at an assumed 60 km it is CNY 196.85. These show the cost mechanism, not measured PEK/PKX hotel distances or fixed quotes. The meter, posted tariff and actual route determine payment. Obtain a current vehicle quote if a fixed total is essential.
Choose the last city connection by hotel area
These are practical station handoffs, not directions to every hotel door. Ask your property for its nearest usable station exit and final walking route before flying. All rail choices below require the airport line and every onward connection to be operating.
PEK via Line 5; PKX via Line 10 and Line 5
Use the station closest to the actual hotel: Dengshikou suits part of northern Wangfujing, Dongdan suits southern/eastern hotels, and Dongsi suits its own neighbourhood.
- PEK: Capital Airport Express → Beixinqiao → Line 5 south → Dongsi, Dengshikou or Dongdan
- PKX: Daxing Airport Express → Caoqiao → Line 10 toward Jiaomen West → Songjiazhuang → Line 5 north → Dongdan, Dengshikou or Dongsi
- At the final station, show the Chinese property address before picking an exit
- For Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing on Jinbao Street, open the separate hotel arrival guide below
Match the station to the hotel entrance
Qianmen streets and hotel entrances can be separated by pedestrian zones or difficult luggage walks. A taxi is often the simpler first arrival when the property is far from a usable exit.
- PEK: Capital Airport Express → Dongzhimen → Line 2 toward Dongsishitiao → Qianmen
- PKX: Daxing Airport Express → Caoqiao; use a metered taxi for the remaining Qianmen hotel leg if several city transfers are impractical
- A car may stop at a lawful road pickup/drop-off point outside a pedestrian street; save the property’s entrance directions
- Do not use a landmark such as Tiananmen as a substitute for the hotel address
Use the northern interchange, then a short final leg
A hutong property may be harder to locate than a main-road hotel. Carry the full Chinese address and the street entrance pin.
- PEK: Capital Airport Express → Dongzhimen → Line 2 toward Yonghegong → Guloudajie for the northern Gulou edge
- PKX: Daxing Airport Express → Caoqiao → Line 19 north → Ping’anli for Xinjiekou / western hutongs, or Jishuitan for northern approaches
- For lakeside Shichahai or a narrow hutong, compare the last walk with a lawful taxi drop-off before choosing rail
- Line 19’s late transfer corridors have their own closing times; the airport train alone does not complete the trip
PEK is the simpler rail approach to the northeast
Dongzhimen is an airport-rail interchange; Sanlitun is a separate district with several possible final stations.
- PEK: leave the airport line at Dongzhimen for a hotel near that hub
- For the Tuanjiehu edge of Sanlitun: PEK → Sanyuanqiao → Line 10 toward Liangmaqiao → Tuanjiehu, then the actual hotel leg
- PKX: Caoqiao → Line 10 toward Jiaomen West and Songjiazhuang → Tuanjiehu for that edge; the cross-city ride is longer
- For another part of Sanlitun or several bags, use a taxi to the full property address rather than walking from a convenient-sounding station
PEK · Capital Airport
PEK: board the correct airport line
At T2 follow Capital Airport Express signs to Parking Garage B2; at T3 to the parking building’s 2F station. Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen and Beixinqiao are different city handoffs. Stay aboard to Beixinqiao for Line 5, or leave at the earlier station needed for your base. Ordinary service times are on the airport’s live timetable; holiday changes and disruptions can override them.
Ordinary airport departures: T3 06:22–22:52; T2 06:36–23:10, about every 10 minutes. T2 boarding is parking-garage B2; T3 boarding is parking-garage 2F. These are platform times; Line 5 and the hotel leg must still work. Buy the airport ticket, then the separate city fare; use a staffed ticket window if an app or foreign card fails. Rail access includes ticket/security queues and vertical movement.
Finish the PEK trip at the hotel door
| Choice and time | Plan and conditions |
|---|---|
| Dongzhimen: | stay here for a nearby hotel, or change to Line 2 for a southern-centre base only when its destination station is open. |
| Beixinqiao: | Line 5 reaches Dongsi, Dengshikou and Dongdan for different Wangfujing-area doors. |
| Sanyuanqiao: | Line 10 can serve the Tuanjiehu edge of Sanlitun. The hotel must identify a usable exit and final walk. |
For Qianmen, check the operator’s travel-day station notices before planning to exit there. Temporary closures can change the route; if the station is closed, use an operating nearby station with a verified final leg or the official taxi queue.
Check PEK airport-line stops, fare and timetable ↗Check PEK T2/T3 official taxi queues ↗
PKX · Daxing Airport
PKX: Caoqiao is the interchange, not the city centre
Follow airport rail signs to B1 and choose the Daxing Airport Express ordinary carriage toward Caoqiao. The CNY 35 airport ticket is separate from the city-subway fare. At Caoqiao use Line 19 north for Ping’anli / Jishuitan, or Line 10 for a connection toward eastern Beijing. Follow current transfer signs; a railway train to a named Beijing station is a different service, not this airport express.
Ordinary airport departures: 06:00–23:00 to Caoqiao. The operator stops last-train sales/checks five minutes before departure and recommends entering ten minutes early. A later airport train is useful only if the onward Line 10/5 chain and hotel arrival still work. Follow B1 airport-rail signs and buy an ordinary CNY 35 ticket to Caoqiao; city Metro fare is separate.
Finish the PKX trip at the hotel door
| Choice and time | Plan and conditions |
|---|---|
| Caoqiao → Line 19: | use Ping’anli for a Xinjiekou or western-hutong approach, or Jishuitan for a northern approach, if the onward corridor is still open. |
| Caoqiao → Line 10: | a further change at Songjiazhuang to Line 5 can serve Dongdan, Dengshikou and Dongsi; Line 10 itself can serve Tuanjiehu for one edge of Sanlitun. With several bags or a Qianmen hotel entrance far from rail, compare an official taxi to the complete Chinese address. |
PKX places the official metered taxi queues on terminal 1F, with Beijing-bound queues on the east and west sides. Follow the signed taxi route; the separate ride-hailing entrance is not the taxi rank.
Check PKX B1 airport rail and service ↗Check the current airport-line last train and ticketing cutoff ↗Check Line 19 transfer-corridor hours ↗
Late arrival and a failed connection
Late arrival: decide after immigration and baggage
A flight landing before the last airport train may still leave no onward subway connection. Ask station staff about the complete trip from the time you reach rail ticketing. If it is 21:30 or later and you cannot verify every leg, use the official taxi queue. This is a conservative planning buffer, not a published last-train cutoff. If an airport bus still runs, take it only when its exact stop and the onward hotel leg both work.
Use the official taxi queue and meter
PEK T2 publishes its queue on 1F outside Gates 5–9 in the median lane; T3 uses B1. At PKX follow the terminal’s signed official taxi route. Official airport taxi service operates overnight. Allow for a queue and traffic. Distance charges, night charges from 23:00–05:00, waiting and tolls affect the total; airport-line fares are not taxi quotes. Show the Chinese destination card, settle how you will pay, ask for the meter and keep the receipt. Ignore unsolicited drivers in arrivals.
Pay without making the phone a single point of failure
Supported overseas UnionPay, Mastercard, Visa, JCB and American Express contactless cards can tap on the city rail network, including both airport lines. Use the same physical card to enter and leave; one credential is for one person’s trip. If a tap fails, stop repeating it and buy a ticket at a staffed counter with a separate usable card or RMB. Phone wallets, card issuers and taxi payment channels differ, so agree the taxi payment route before boarding.
No phone or working payment: stay with airport staff
At PEK T3 and PKX, the Beijing Service counter across from international arrivals lists 24/7 assistance with payment, SIM / Wi-Fi and transport information. Ask about ATM or currency exchange help and show the paper destination card. At PEK T2 use the terminal information desk; its services need not match the T3 counter. If no payment route works, ask staff to contact your airline or hotel and arrange a complete paid transport route before leaving arrivals. Temporary promotions are not the fallback plan.
The airport code is different from the route you saved
Read the ticket and arrival terminal again. Replace the PEK sequence with PKX → Caoqiao, or PKX with the PEK station chain. Do not head toward an airport hotel or city pickup for the other code.
The onward train has closed
Leave the rail plan before buying an incomplete journey. Use the signed taxi queue; show the full Chinese address and agree a payment method. An airport bus is usable only with a known stop and final leg.
Luggage or the transfer corridor is too much
Ask station staff for the nearest usable exit and lawful taxi pickup. Use the Chinese destination card rather than dragging bags through an improvised route.
Phone, map and wallet fail together
Keep the hotel card, booking and physical payment outside the phone. At PEK T3 / PKX ask Beijing Service for paper directions and payment help; at T2 use terminal staff. Stay in the staffed area until the complete onward plan works.
The taxi cannot find the hotel entrance
Show the exact Chinese branch, street address and entrance directions. Ask airport staff to call the public property phone before leaving when the address is unclear; never pay a driver to guess from the English brand alone.
Five actions before leaving arrivals
- Save PEK or PKX and the arrival terminal from the issued ticket
- Choose the city interchange for the actual hotel
- Print the Chinese hotel address and entrance directions
- Keep a usable physical payment backup
- After baggage claim, use rail only if every leg and the hotel walk fit
Questions before you choose
Which Beijing airport is closer to central sights?
PEK lies northeast of central Beijing and has direct rail handoffs at Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen and Beixinqiao. PKX lies south and uses Caoqiao. The better arrival depends on the hotel, flight and transfer burden; choose the route from the airport code actually booked.
How much is the airport train?
PEK’s Capital Airport Express is CNY 25 per person. PKX to Caoqiao in the ordinary Daxing Airport Express carriage is CNY 35. Add the city-subway fare and any final hotel transfer; these are not taxi prices.
Can I reach Wangfujing by rail?
From PEK change at Beixinqiao to Line 5 south. From PKX change at Caoqiao to Line 10 toward Songjiazhuang, then Line 5 north. Dongsi, Dengshikou and Dongdan serve different parts of the area; your hotel’s usable exit decides the final stop.
Do taxis run after the subway closes?
Official airport taxi service operates overnight. Follow terminal signs to the official queue, carry the Chinese hotel address, agree a usable payment route and ask for the meter and receipt. Queue time and the final metered fare depend on the actual trip.
Do I need a mainland phone number to take the airport train?
A staffed-counter ticket or an eligible physical contactless card does not require a phone-based subway account. Keep RMB or a second usable card in case the first card fails. Ask station staff for help rather than repeating a rejected tap.
Check the live route before paying
PEK tariff and ordinary airport-rail service windows were read from the linked operators on 2 October 2026. Other fact checks retain their individual dates. Updated 2 October 2026: added the exact-hotel totals and explicit time arithmetic. Use the airport and hotel you actually booked. Confirm every train and usable exit at the time you reach ticketing; holiday extensions and closures can change the full route. If a complete rail or bus journey no longer works, ask staffed airport help for the official taxi route.