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How to Transfer from Beijing Daxing Airport to City Easily & Direct

Welcome to Beijing! If you've just landed at Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) - the stunning "Starfish" designed by Zaha Hadid - you're probably wondering how to get into the city.

Daxing Airport sits 46 km south of downtown Beijing, so getting to popular areas like Wangfujing, the Forbidden City, Sanlitun, or the CBD takes some planning.

This Beijing Daxing Airport to City guide is here to help. We cover every transport option from Daxing Airport - metro, bus, taxi, and ride-hailing - with real travel times, fares, exact drop-off stops, and which route works best for where you're staying.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Airport Bus - Easiest option for hotels near Wangfujing, Chongwenmen, Temple of Heaven, Shuangjing, Guomao, or Sanlitun.
  • High-Speed Train - Cheapest, but requires a transfer. Best for Beijing West Station direction.
  • Daxing Airport Express - Most frequent. Best for daytime arrivals.
  • Taxi / Didi - Most comfortable. Best for heavy luggage, families, or late-night arrivals.

Content Preview

  • triangleBeijing Daxing Airport to City Distance: 46 KM/1.5 Hour
  • triangle4 Ways from Daxing Airport Transfer to City: Which One Is Right for You?
  • triangleDaxing Airport Bus - The Easiest & Direct Option for Most Tourists
  • triangleHigh-Speed Train - The Cheapest Way If You Don't Mind a Transfer
  • triangleDaxing Airport Express - Most Frequent
  • triangleTaxi or Didi from Daxing - Worth ¥150-250?
  • triangleBest Way to Get from Beijing Daxing Airport to Wangfujing (Near Forbidden City)
  • triangleBeijing Daxing Airport to the Sanlitun & CBD
  • triangleWith Asia Odyssey Travel Transfer from Beijing Daxing Airport to City

Beijing Daxing Airport to City Distance: 46 KM/1.5 Hour

Beijing Forbidden City
Beijing Forbidden City

Beijing Daxing Airport is not close to the old city center. For most tourists, the first useful number to know is this: Beijing Daxing Airport is about 46 km from the Forbidden City area, which usually means around 1.5-2 hours.

  • Beijing Daxing Airport to the Forbidden City: about 46 km.
  • Beijing Daxing Airport to the Temple of Heaven: about 41-44 km.
  • Beijing Daxing Airport to Beijing North Railway Station (Xizhimen): about 55-57 km.

4 Ways from Daxing Airport Transfer to City: Which One Is Right for You?

Transfer Option Best For Time Cost
Airport Bus Most tourists, direct ride to central areas About 60-100 min ¥30-55
High-Speed Train Budget travelers who do not mind transferring; Beijing West connections 28-34 min to Beijing West, longer overall with transfer ¥17-90
Daxing Airport Express Daytime arrivals who want frequent service 21 min to Caoqiao, then transfer ¥35 standard / ¥50 business
Taxi / Didi Families, heavy luggage, late arrivals About 50-90 min About ¥150-250
Note:

For travelers who have never been to China before and cannot read Chinese signs, airport bus is always the top pick.

Daxing Airport Bus - The Easiest & Direct Option for Most Tourists

Beijing Summer Palace
Beijing Summer Palace

You can find the airport bus inside Gate 20 on the east side of Level 1 at Daxing Airport. Tickets can be bought on site. All routes have clear English route boards, and staff can offer basic guidance for foreign guests.

Not all bus lines are useful for tourists. Suburban routes like Tongzhou, Yizhuang, Fangshan, Tiantongyuan and Fengtai mainly serve local residents and business parks, with few tourist hotels or landmarks nearby.

First-time travelers can completely ignore these lines and focus only on the two daytime main routes and two night service lines.

Beijing Railway Station Line - For Wangfujing & Forbidden City Hotels

  • Operating Hours: 08:15-23:15
  • Frequency: Every 15-30 minutes, 15-minute interval during peak hours
  • Fare: ¥30-40 RMB

This is the best bus line if you stay in Wangfujing, Forbidden City, Tiananmen or Temple of Heaven area. It runs straight into the historic city center, passing core tourist stops along the way. Here is key drop-off stops for visitors:

Temple of Heaven: Get off here if you plan to visit the landmark or stay in nearby budget hotels.

Ciqikou: Closest stop to Forbidden City and Tiananmen South Gate, ideal for ancient alley accommodation.

Chongwenmen: Walking distance to Wangfujing pedestrian street, full of international chain hotels and restaurants.

Beijing Railway Station East: Perfect if you need to take intercity trains to Xi'an, Chengdu or the Great Wall later.

Chaoyang Station Line - For Sanlitun, CBD & Guomao Hotels

  • Operating Hours: 06:00-19:00
  • Frequency: Hourly, every 30 minutes during peak hours
  • Fare: ¥40-45 RMB

If your hotel is in Sanlitun, Guomao, Shuangjing or Beijing CBD, this is your go-to bus route. These districts host the largest concentration of expat bars, luxury hotels, international restaurants and embassy compounds in Beijing.

Shuangjing Bridge North: The most convenient stop for Sanlitun and CBD accommodation.

Panjiayuan Bridge North: Close to antique markets and boutique hotels popular among overseas travelers.

Langjiayuan: Walking distance to Guomao central business district and high-end five-star hotels.

Landed After 11 PM? The Night Bus Routes

Beijing Temple of Heaven
Beijing Temple of Heaven

Many international flights arrive at Daxing Airport late in the evening, long after regular public transport starts to reduce service. Fortunately, two official night bus lines run through midnight until early morning, covering all core tourist zones.

Night Service Line 1 (Zhongguancun): Best for travelers staying at Xizhimen, Beijing West Railway Station and northern Beijing. Xizhimen is a major transport hub with countless hotels and easy access to Great Wall day trips.

  • Operating Hours: 23:15 - 03:00 next day
  • Frequency: Every 20 mins (23:15-01:00); every 30 mins (01:00-03:00), departs when full
  • Fare: ¥35-55 RMB
  • Key drop-off stops: Beijing Fengtai Railway Station, Liuliqiao North, Xizhimen South, Zhongguancun.

Night Service Line 2 (Agricultural Exhibition Center): This is the most valuable night route for foreign tourists, covering city center, Shuangjing, CBD and Sanlitun. Get off at Shuangjing Bridge North for Sanlitun nightlife and CBD hotels; alight at Chongwenmen if you need city center accommodation at midnight.

  • Operating Hours: 23:15 - 05:00 next day
  • Frequency: 20 mins - 30 mins - 60 mins as night goes on
  • Fare: ¥40-55 RMB

High-Speed Train - The Cheapest Way If You Don't Mind a Transfer

Beijing North Railway Station
Beijing North Railway Station

For budget travelers willing to handle one simple transfer, the high-speed train from Daxing Airport to Beijing West Railway Station is the most cost-effective option.

  • Location: B1 floor of Daxing Airport
  • Schedule: 25 daily trips from 06:41 to 23:04
  • Travel Time: Most journeys take 28-34 minutes; a small number of special trains take 1-1.5 hours
  • Fare Range: Second class ¥17-30 RMB, first class ¥26-48 RMB, business class ¥50-90 RMB

Once you arrive at Beijing West Railway Station, you can take the metro or local bus to reach your hotel.

Daxing Airport Express - Most Frequent

The Daxing Airport Express Metro is located on the airport B1 floor, marked with clear blue signs you can easily follow even without reading Chinese.

  • Operating Hours: 6:00-23:00
  • Route: Only two stops - Daxing New Town and Caoqiao, connecting to Metro Line 10 and Line 19
  • Travel Time: 21 minutes from airport to Caoqiao
  • Base Fare: ¥35 per person; business seat ¥50 per person

You can pay via Alipay travel code or buy tickets from self-service machines. The train uses a mix of 8-car and 4-car formations - simply follow the colored waiting lines on the platform to queue correctly.

Note that you need to exit the Caoqiao station gate first before transferring to Line 10 or Line 19.

Further Connection Travel Time by Subway:

Caoqiao to Wangfujing: Line 10 transfer to Line 8, around 40 minutes, ¥5 extra fare
Caoqiao to Sanlitun: Direct Line 10, around 50 minutes including walking time, ¥5 extra fare

Note for Taxi/Didi:

If you plan to take a taxi after reaching Caoqiao, exit from Gate G - this area has less waiting traffic and drivers can wait for you briefly without rushing.

Taxi or Didi from Daxing - Worth ¥150-250?

Beijing City
Beijing City

Taxis and Didi ride-hailing offer door-to-door service with zero transfers. The pick-up area is on the airport second-floor arrival hall, with P1 and P2 online car parking zones accessible after passing the security checkpoint corridor.

One-way cost ranges from ¥150 to ¥250 RMB, depending on your exact downtown destination and traffic conditions.

Is it worth the price? Yes: If you travel with family, carry multiple large suitcases, arrive very late at night, or stay in a hidden hotel hard to reach by public transport.

Best Way to Get from Beijing Daxing Airport to Wangfujing (Near Forbidden City)

Beijing City
Beijing City

Wangfujing and Forbidden City area are the top choice for first-time tourists who want to stay close to Beijing's most iconic historic sites.

Top recommended transfer: Take Beijing Railway Station Line airport bus, get off at Ciqikou or Chongwenmen stop. You reach Wangfujing pedestrian street and Forbidden City south gate within walking distance, with no metro interchange required.

Alternative budget option: Take Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao, transfer to metro Line 10 then Line 8 straight to Wangfujing. Slightly more steps but reliable fixed schedule all day.

Beijing Daxing Airport to the Sanlitun & CBD

Sanlitun, Guomao and CBD are favored by foreign travelers for luxury shopping, international restaurants, bars and expat-friendly hotels.

The best way is take the Chaoyang Station Line airport bus, alight at Shuangjing Bridge North stop. It is the closest direct drop-off to Sanlitun and CBD.

Late-night arrival:

Take Night Service Line 2, get off at Shuangjing Bridge North or Agricultural Exhibition Center stop to reach Sanlitun area safely after 11 PM.

With Asia Odyssey Travel Transfer from Beijing Daxing Airport to City

Planning a transfer from Beijing Daxing Airport to city center from scratch can be stressful - unfamiliar transport, language barriers, and confusing routes.

Asia Odyssey Travel, with 15+ years of experience and 180+ English-speaking travel experts, takes the hassle out of it.

From airport transfers, Great Wall day trips, Beijing tours to multi-city itineraries across 100+ destinations, the team offers 24/7 support and seamless arrangements. Skip the stress - let Asia Odyssey Travel handle every detail.

faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Expand All
What is the distance from Beijing Daxing Airport to city center? +
Approximately 46 KM, with average travel time of 1.5 hours by road.
What is the easiest transport for first-time foreign visitors? +
The official airport bus is the easiest, with direct drops near major tourist hotels and no complicated transfers.
How long does it take to get from Beijing Daxing Airport to the city center? +
About 60-90 minutes by public transport (bus, train, or subway), or 50-75 minutes by taxi/Didi depending on traffic. The airport sits 46 km from the Forbidden City.
What's the best transfer from Daxing Airport at night (after 11 PM)? +
The two Night Bus Lines are your only public option:
- Night Line 1 (until 3 AM) - Zhongguancun, good for west/northwest Beijing.
- Night Line 2 (until 5 AM) - Chongwenmen, Beijing Railway Station, Shuangjing - best for central tourist hotels.

Otherwise, take a Didi or taxi (~¥180-250).
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