Beijing Airports Layover 2025/2026

Currently, there are 2 major airports in Beijing serving passengers, namely Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场 IATA: PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (北京大兴国际机场 IATA: PKX), which was put into use by the end of September, 2019. Please note Beijing Capital International Airport is much closer to the downtown area, and we suggest to book a flight to Beijing Capital Airport if possible.

Beijing Capital Airport is the port for both 24-Hour Direct Visa-free Transit and 144-Hour Visa-free Transit. Compared with Beijing West Railway Station, the other valid port of entry in Beijing, Beijing Capital International Airport is much more frequently used for its excellent location, convenient transportation and access to foreign cities. Also, Beijing Daxing International Airport has open 144-Hour Transit Visa Free for foreign travelers. For more related details about requirements, applications and recommended Beijing layover tours, please visit our Beijing 144 Hour Visa Guide!

Recommended Beijing Tour with Visa Free:

Where is Beijing Capital International Airport Located?

Address: West Airport Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China (北京市朝阳区机场西路)

Beijing Capital Airport is located about 32km (20 miles) northeast of the city center. Beijing Capital International Airport is the major international airport serving Beijing. Connected with over 132 domestic air routes to 160 cities in China and more than 120 routes to more than 130 destinations abroad, Beijing Capital Airport is the busiest airport in China and one of the top-ranking busiest airports in the world. It plays an irreplaceable role as a key hub, for connecting airlines in Europe, Asia and North America. Passengers can get to/leave the airport by taxi, rail (Beijing Airport Express), airport shuttle bus, private car and intercity bus conveniently.

Beijing Capital International Airport Location Map (click to enlarge)

Transfer from Beijing Capital Airport to Major Attractions in Beijing

☛ Beijing Capital Airport to Great Walls: about 55km (34 miles)/1.5 hours' driving to Mutianyu Great Wall; about 80km (50 miles)/1.5 hours' driving to Badaling Great Wall; about 130km (81 miles)/2 hours' driving to Chengde Jinshanling Great Wall (Hebei).

☛ Beijing Capital Airport to Forbidden City: about 30km (19 miles)/1 hour's driving.

☛ Beijing Capital Airport to City Center: it takes about 40 minutes ~ 1 hour to Tian'anmen Square, city center, by taxi or driving.

It's highly recommended to take a private car or local taxi, since the public transfer is very complicated and confusing for newcomers.

Where to Sleep in and near Beijing Capital Airport?

Attention: There is NO hotel inside Beijing Capital International Airport. But the airport has hourly rate lounges in Terminal 1, 2 & 3, where you can pay for rest in a single/standard room, watch TV and movies, etc.

For applicants of 24-Hour Direct Transit Visa, you may have an overnight layover inside the Beijing Capital Airport. Hence, sleeping in Beijing Capital Airport is your only choice. You may ask for help from airline counters. If you want to go outside the airport during the layover (not qualified for the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit), you should apply for a China Transit Visa (G Visa) before departure.

For applicants of 144-Hour Visa-free Transit, you can leave Capital Airport and stay in any hotel you like, or firstly rest in a hotel nearby when the flight arrives at midnight or early morning, e.g. Hilton, Cordis Beijing Hotel, Crowne Palaza Hotel, etc.

☛ Useful Links: Luxury Hotels in Beijing | Comfort Hotels in Beijing | Economy Hotels in Beijing

Beijing Capital Airport Major International (Regional) Flights Destinations

Europe: London, Paris, Moscow, Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid, Athens, Barcelona, etc;

North America: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, Brussels, etc;

Asia: Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Manila, New Delhi, Istanbul, Hanoi,etc;

Oceania: Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, etc.

☛ Useful Links: Flights to Beijing

Special Visa-free Service at Beijing Capital Airport

*1. Beijing Capital International Airport has set up 144-Hour Visa-free counters in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, which have international or regional flights. After landing, it's very easy and fast to locate the counter by seeing obvious signs and sticks on the ground.

*2. Beijing Capital International Airport also provides free luggage storage service for qualified 144-Hour Visa-free transit passengers. Presenting the Temporary Entry Permit on a passport, travelers can leave big baggage at the specified counters for up to 6 days, without any charges.

Recommended Beijing Tour with Great Wall Experience:

Where is Beijing Daxing International Airport Located?

Beijing Daxing International Airport is located at the junction of Daxing District of Beijing and Langfang City of Hebei Province, about 50 kilometers south of Tian'anmen Square/Forbidden City, 28 kilometers west of downtown Langfang City, 80 kilometers northeast of Beijing Xiong'an New District, and 90 kilometers from Beijing Capital International Airport, 138 kilometers south of Mutianyu Great Wall.

Beijing Daxing International Airport Location Map (click to enlarge)

Transfer from Beijing Daxing International Airport to Beijing Downtown

A fully connected transportation network consisting of highways, high-speed railways and subway will support the operation of Daxing International Airport. After you land at Beijing Daxing Airport, you may get to your hotels in downtown Beijing or Beijing's top attractions. We suggest you use a comfortable private transfer service from a reliable agency like China Discovery. For independent travelers who want to take full advantage of public transportation, it is also available to take a train, bus and taxi, but sometimes you may need to make several transfers.

Flights to/off Beijing Daxing International Airport

Till 2022, there are over 900 flights on 123 different routes from Beijing Daxing Airport, connecting Beijing to over 120 cities in 5 different countries. There are frequent domestic flights from Beijing to Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Harbin, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Changsha, Kunming, Wuhan, Sanya, Xining, Shanghai, etc.

Recommended Beijing Tour with Great Wall Experience:

How to Apply for Visa-free Transit at Beijing Airports?

Unlike China Visa Application in your home country with much preparation to do, now getting a visa-free transit, Temporary Entry Permit for leaving the airport is quite simple and fast. The precondition is that you must check if you qualify for the relevant requirements. If yes, read the instructions below to know what to do to get a transit visa exempted and entry permitted for visiting Beijing.

Our Customers Visiting Beijing (July, 2019)

Step 1. When boarding, you should inform the air company which carries you to Beijing, that you will apply for 24-Hour or 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy for Beijing. They will convey your request to the immigration authority at the airport.

Step 2. After landing, you should follow the guide of airline staff, visa-free transit signs and indicators to locate the 24/144 hour international transfer (leaving the airport) channel.

Step 3. You need to fill in a blue Arrival Card, give travel itinerary and flight details as required, and complete a Temporary Entry Application Form at the visa-free desk.

Step 4. Then, you will queue up for submission. The immigration authority will check your document and decide to grant you a Temporary Entry Permit. (The expected waiting time varies from different airports, it would be between a few minutes to 1 hour or above.)

If you already applied for a Chinese Visa and will not use it this time, please tell the officer your need when being checked.

Step 5. You may go through immigration procedures, leave the airport and visit Beijing for no more than 6 days after getting transit visa exemption.

Tips: 1.) Virtually, the visa-free transit counts from 00:00 on the day after arrival, which means you are able to stay over 144 hours in Beijing. 2.) Foreigners are required to make accommodation registration within 24 hours after check-in. If you stay in a hotel, the hotel staff will register for you, otherwise, you shall register at a local Public Security Bureau by yourself.

☛ Useful Links: Popular Beijing Tours | Get to & around Beijing | Beijing Maps

1. Do I need a transit visa for Beijing airport?

Check the requirements for China's 24-Hour & 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policies first. If you meet all conditions, you don't need to apply for a Transit Visa (G Visa) for a layover in Beijing, China. Once issued a Temporary Entry Permit, you're allowed to leave the airport and enter Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. China Visa-free Transit Requirements & Application Guide >>

2. Can I apply for a Visa on Arrival at Beijing airport?

Currently, Visa on Arrival, or Port Visa, is only valid for group tourist and few certain emergency visit to China. Regular visit should get a visa for Beijing, China in advance. How to Get A Visa for China >>

3. Are there any attractions near Beijing airport?

There are no scenic spots around Beijing Airport. Famous cultural and historic sites are mainly located in the city center area. The Great Walls are situated in the north suburb of Beijing, at least 1 hour's driving distance from Capital Airport and 2 hour's driving distance from Daxing Airport. Top Attractions in Beijing >>

Recommended Beijing Tour with Great Wall Experience:

Travel Beijing with China Discovery

Since all the sections of Great Wall are located in the outskirts of Beijing, they are not reached convenient. If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can travel with us China Discovery. We'll provide well-organized itineraries, even our assistance of Chinese Visa application, convenient airport/train station pick-up & drop-off and transfer between all scenic spots, knowledgeable tour guide, safe & licensed private vehicle, satisfactory accommodation and dining and so on. You can just focus on your sightseeing.

With several years' experience, we have helped many travelers finished their Great Wall. Check our most popular Great Wall Hiking Tours. If you have any new travel ideas, feel free to contact us and we can customize a unique tour according to your own needs.

Woo's group from Latvia traveled Mutianyu Great Wall with China Discovery

How to Plan a Beijing Tour

• How to Plan a Great Wall of China Tour

As the ancient and present capital city, Beijing never failed to satisfy travelers' desire for China's long history and rich culture, including the sprawling palace complex & museum, iconic lakeside retreat for royalty, famed & historic temple complex, etc. A classic Beijing tour with Great Wall experience takes about 2 ~ 5 days. You can see the essential landmarks of Beijing Citysuch as Forbidden City, Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and More! Check more about Things to Do in Beijing

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• How to Plan a Beijing Tour with other Popular Cities

You can also easily travel from Beijing to any other hot travel destination in China by flight or train, such as Xian, Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Yangtze River, Guilin, Chengdu, Tibet, etc. China Discovery has designed many classic China tour packages including Beijing for you. If you have any new travel ideas, feel free to contact us.

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If you are interested in China Visa-free tour, you could customize a China Visa-free Tour with China Discovery in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.

Our Customers in Temple of Heaven