BEIJING · ARRIVE AT THE RIGHT AIRPORT
Beijing Has Two Airports: Check PEK or PKX Before You Travel
Check PEK or PKX before booking—and check it again before you leave. For Daxing, start by looking at the Airport Express.
The trisAino Editorial Team · Checked
Beijing has two major passenger airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). They are separate airports, not different terminals of one complex. Check the three-letter airport code on every flight before booking transport, an airport hotel or a connecting flight. Beijing's official airport information identifies both airports and their codes. Beijing airport information
Our first practical reminder: check PEK or PKX before buying the ticket, then check it again before leaving for the airport. “Beijing” on the booking screen is not specific enough. Your outbound and return flights can use different airports.
For Daxing, look at the Daxing Airport Express before defaulting to a taxi. Its airport journey is quick, but you must also plan how to reach its city connection at Caoqiao. Neither airport is automatically the better choice for every hotel or traveler.
PEK and PKX: the names to recognise
| On your ticket | Airport | Chinese name to match in maps and messages |
|---|---|---|
| PEK | Beijing Capital International Airport | 北京首都国际机场 |
| PKX | Beijing Daxing International Airport | 北京大兴国际机场 |
Think of these codes as the first part of your destination. Your terminal, flight number and date provide the rest.
Simply telling a driver “Beijing airport” is not enough. Share the exact airport name and code, followed by the terminal shown in your airline's current flight details. Check the return journey separately: you do not have to leave from the airport where you arrived.
Check the full journey, not just the airfare
A cheaper flight can involve a less convenient airport journey. Before booking, compare the airport with your hotel's saved map location, your arrival time and your luggage. Count transfers and the final journey to the hotel, not just the airport train ride. An airport hotel also needs to be near the correct airport, with shuttle arrangements that suit your flight.
The two airport rail services are different
The Capital Airport Express serves PEK. The airport's official transport page lists Beixinqiao, Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao on the city side, and T2 and T3 at the airport. Follow the full line name and your terminal rather than simply looking for an “airport train.” Capital Airport Express information
The Daxing Airport Express serves PKX and connects with the city network at Caoqiao. Check the full service name when planning your route. Daxing Airport Express information
These are two separate airport rail services. Choosing the wrong one is not a small detour between terminals.
Capital Airport Express
City connections: Beixinqiao, Dongzhimen, Sanyuanqiao
Airport: T2 / T3
Daxing Airport Express
City connection: Caoqiao
Lines 10 / 19 connect at Caoqiao
Flying from Daxing? Start by checking the Airport Express
Daxing can involve a substantial road journey from your Beijing hotel. Our founder's practical preference is to check the airport rail option first rather than automatically booking a taxi for the whole journey.
The operator describes the Caoqiao–Daxing Airport ride as about 20 minutes. Caoqiao connects with Lines 10 and 19, so your complete route may be a city metro journey followed by the Airport Express. Operator's journey-time information · Official Caoqiao connections
About 20 minutes is the train journey, not the total hotel-to-flight journey. Add the journey to Caoqiao, time to change trains and wait, and time inside the airport before your airline's check-in or boarding deadline.
Check the operator's current timetable for your direction and date, especially for an early flight or late arrival. Daxing Airport Express timetable
Rail is not the most convenient option for every trip. A car may suit a late arrival after trains stop, a large luggage load, mobility needs or a hotel with awkward rail connections. Compare the whole route, including walking and transfers, for your own party. Daxing also lists airport buses and car services. Official PKX transport information
Is there a direct airport train between Capital and Daxing?
As of September 27, 2026, PEK and PKX do not have a direct airport-to-airport rail service comparable to Shanghai's Airport Link Line. The published Capital and Daxing Airport Express services connect each airport with the city network; going between the airports by rail requires onward connections.
That does not mean there is no transport between them. Capital Airport's official transport page lists Daxing among its airport-bus destinations. Check the current airport-to-airport bus service, its operating hours and your flight timing before relying on it. A road transfer can also be affected by traffic. Capital Airport transport options
If you have read our Shanghai airport article, keep this distinction in mind: the Shanghai rail connection is not a model to assume for Beijing.
What if you land at one airport and fly out of the other?
A PEK–PKX connection is an airport change, not a walk to another departure gate. Treat the surface journey as a separate part of the itinerary.
Before buying, ask the airline or ticket seller who arranges the airport transfer, whether you must collect checked baggage and when the next flight's check-in closes. Allow for arrival procedures, the surface journey and possible delays; a driving-time estimate alone is not enough to judge a connection. For an international arrival, confirm that your documents permit the required landside journey. Do not assume you can change airports within the international transit area.
Send the right pickup information
Before you leave the hotel, match the airport on your airline's flight details to the airport in your map, train route or car booking. If they do not agree, resolve it before setting off.
Before you travel, keep one short arrival record:
- Airport: full name and PEK or PKX.
- Flight number and local arrival date.
- Terminal, checked against current airline information.
- Hotel name and Chinese address.
- Passenger count and luggage, including oversized items.
For a car pickup, agree on the meeting point rather than assuming every vehicle uses the same curb. For example, Capital Airport publishes different ride-hailing pickup areas for T2 and T3. Follow the current airport and driver instructions. Capital Airport ride-hailing information
For more on keeping destination details usable, read our article on saving and showing Chinese addresses.
Airport and transport information checked September 27, 2026. The recommendation to check Daxing Airport Express first reflects our founder's travel preference; convenience depends on your actual route. Recheck flight terminals, service hours and transfer conditions before travel. This article does not determine immigration eligibility or provide a universal minimum connection time.