Beijing Daxing International Airport is an impressive place to arrive, and you might feel overwhelmed by the time you emerge at the arrivals hall. But getting from Daxing Airport to downtown Beijing is easier than it may seem. There is no need to book an expensive airport transfer or pay for an almost two hour taxi – it’s easy to skip the traffic and get from Daxing Airport to downtown by public transportation.
New transport links will open in the coming months, but right now the best option is to take the high speed “Daxing Airport Express” which connects directly with the Beijing Subway.
Quick Facts:
Approximate journey time: 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes to downtown Beijing (2nd/3rd ring roads)
Cost: 35 RMB for Daxing Airport Express, plus 4-7 RMB for subway transfer.
Schedules from Beijing Daxing International Airport Station:
First train: 06:00
Last train: 22:30
How to get from the airport to downtown:
From the arrivals area, follow the “Rail Transit” signs to the Daxing Airport Express. The station is located under the arrivals area, so go all the way down to the B1 floor.
At the station entrance level, it is possible to purchase single airport express tickets or a rechargeable Beijing Subway card from the machines or the ticket counter. The cost to Caoqiao subway station (草桥站) on line 10 is 35 RMB (plus 20 RMB for the deposit if you go with the rechargeable card).
We highly recommend getting the rechargeable card as it makes travel on the subway very convenient for the remainder of your stay. There is a 20 RMB refundable deposit for the subway smartcard.
For foreigners the easiest method of payment will likely be cash RMB. There are many ATMs available at the airport, and we suggest withdrawing some cash as soon as you can since you will need it for most transactions.
To access the subway, you will pass through basic security checks. Your bags will go through an x-ray machine and you’ll walk through a metal detector. This might sound tedious after the airport, but these checks are in place at all Beijing subway stations so the guards are very efficient. Tap your subway card on the reader at the gate, and you’re in!
The subway platform is down one level from the ticket hall. Trains leave every 8-10 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long.
The Airport Express train is very comfortable, with ample leg room and luggage racks. It travels at speeds of up to 155 kilometres per hour, making only one stop between the airport and Caoqiao subway station. The approximately 40 kilometre journey takes 20 minutes.
At Caoqiao station, you will need to tap your subway card or ticket to exit the airport express network. From Caoqiao, you can access the rest of the extensive Beijing subway network. Signs will direct you to line 10.
We hope you enjoy your time in Beijing!
