Flights to Beijing

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Tel: (10) 6454 1100.
Website: www.bcia.com.cn

Beijing's airport is located 25km (16 miles) northeast of the city centre. The main international terminal opened in 1999 for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. As part of Beijing's pre-Olympic overhaul, Lord Norman Foster's glittering new Terminal 3 opened in 2008, claiming to be ‘the world's largest and most advanced airport building'. A second international airport is also currently being planned outside the city itself.

Approximate flight times to Beijing: From London is 10 hours 10 minutes; from New York is 14 hours 40 minutes; from Los Angeles is 12 hours 30 minutes; from Toronto is 16 hours 20 minutes and from Sydney is 13 hours 30 minutes.

Airport facilities: These include bureaux de change, ATM, hotel reservations and transfers, duty-free and other shops, cafés, restaurants, left-luggage and tourist information. Terminal 3, which is located 7km (4 miles) from Terminals 1 and 2, is the best equipped in terms of dining and shopping.

Transport to the city: Metered taxis are available at the airport (journey time - 45-60 minutes). The Airport-City Shuttle Bus (tel: (10) 6459 4375) departs every 30 minutes (0530-2230) from outside arrivals hall 11. Buses take six routes into the city - the most popular is to Xidan in central Beijing, a short walk from the Forbidden City. The other routes are to Fangzhuang, Beijing Railway Station, Gongzhufen in western Beijing, Zhongguancun high-tech park in the city's northwest district (journey time - 35-60 minutes) and Nanyuan private airport. Shuttle buses to the airport leave regularly throughout the day from the China Aviation Building, and from both the China Art Gallery and Zhongguancun. Opened in 2008, the ABC (Airport to Beijing City) express train connects Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao metro stations in the city to both Terminal 3 and Terminals 1 and 2 in 25 minutes.