Jazmin Li
Beijing Capital Airport and Daxing Airport are two of the largest aviation hubs in Asia, serving as transit points for passengers travelling to and from destinations all over the world. Travellers with long layovers in Beijing may wish to leave the airport to explore the city, but this requires careful planning and the correct documentation. In this article, we will outline the steps you need to take to leave Beijing airport during a layover, and provide suggestions for things to do and see in Beijing during your short stay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa requirement | Citizens of certain countries, including the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, do not require a visa for a short layover. |
| Temporary Entry Permit | A Temporary Entry Permit or "Visitors in Transit" permit is required to leave the airport during a layover. This can be obtained at the airport upon arrival. |
| Time constraints | Travellers with layovers shorter than 8 hours may be denied exit from the airport due to insufficient transit time. Longer layovers of 9-12 hours allow for more sightseeing. |
| Transportation | The Airport Express train and taxis are available for transportation to Beijing's city centre, which takes approximately 2-3 hours from the airport. |
| Attractions | Popular attractions in Beijing include the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven. |
| Accommodation | Hotels near the airport offer convenient options, but foreigners must register their accommodation within 24 hours of check-in. |
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What You'll Learn
- If your layover is 8 hours or less, check with your airline or the airport to confirm you can leave
- To leave Beijing airport, you'll need a visa or a temporary entry permit
- Citizens from 53 countries, including the US, UK, and Australia, are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free policy
- If you have a long layover, you can visit Beijing attractions like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall
- If your layover is at night, it's recommended to rest in the airport or a nearby hotel
If your layover is 8 hours or less, check with your airline or the airport to confirm you can leave
If your layover in Beijing is 8 hours or less, it is recommended that you check with your airline or the airport to confirm that you can leave. Travellers have reported being denied exit from the airport for layovers shorter than 8 hours, possibly due to concerns about insufficient transit time. While there is no official rule on the allowable time to leave the airport, it is better to be safe than sorry.
To leave Beijing Capital Airport or Beijing Daxing International Airport during an 8-hour layover, you will need to pass the health/quarantine check and the immigration inspection. Before flying to China, print out the confirmation of your onward flight. Upon arrival, submit an application to the immigration inspection authority to leave the restricted area.
If you are from a country that does not have visa-free access, such as Algeria or India, you will need a visa to leave the airport. Otherwise, you may qualify for the visa-free transit policy. In this case, inform the airline when boarding that you will apply for the 24-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit policy. After landing, follow the signs to the international transfer (leaving the airport) channel.
Once you arrive at the visa-free desk, fill in an arrival card and complete a Temporary Entry Application Form. The immigration authority will then decide whether to grant you a Temporary Entry Permit. With this permit, you can leave the airport and enter Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. However, keep in mind that the first and last 2 hours of your layover will likely be spent on customs and immigration, so you may only have 4 hours left for sightseeing.
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To leave Beijing airport, you'll need a visa or a temporary entry permit
If you want to leave Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) during a layover, you will need a visa or a temporary entry permit.
Visa-Free Transit
Nationals from the following countries do not need a visa to transit through Beijing: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
If you are a national of one of these countries, you can apply for a visa-free transit at the exit-entry border inspection authorities of the ports in the cities where the visa-free transit policies are in effect. You will need a valid international travel document and a connecting ticket with confirmed seats for transit via China to a third country or region within a specified time frame.
Temporary Entry Permit
If you are granted a visa-free transit, you will also need to apply for a Temporary Entry Permit to leave the airport. To do this, you will need to fill in an Arrival Card, provide your travel itinerary and flight details, and complete a Temporary Entry Application Form at the visa-free desk. The immigration authority will then decide whether to grant you a Temporary Entry Permit.
China Transit Visa
If you do not qualify for the visa-free transit policy, you will need to apply for a China Transit Visa (G Visa) before your departure if you want to leave the airport during your layover.
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Citizens from 53 countries, including the US, UK, and Australia, are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free policy
Beijing offers a 240-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens of 53 countries, including the US, UK, and Australia. This policy allows eligible citizens to leave Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) during transit and explore the city for up to 10 days without a visa. This is a significant upgrade from the previous 144-hour visa-free policy, providing visitors with more time to experience Beijing.
To take advantage of this policy, travellers must be transiting to a third country or region and meet specific criteria. It is important to note that the 240-hour limit is calculated from 00:00 on the day following the passenger's entry. For example, if a passenger arrives at Beijing Airport at 08:00 on January 1, their visa-free transit period will start from 00:00 on January 2 and they must exit before 23:59 on January 11.
Eligible travellers can follow these steps to utilise the 240-hour visa-free transit policy:
- Ensure your nationality is on the list of eligible countries and your travel plan meets the requirements.
- Use an approved entry point, such as Beijing Capital International Airport or Beijing Daxing International Airport.
- Prepare the necessary documents, including a valid passport, a confirmed ticket with a set date and seat to a third country or region, and a completed arrival/departure card.
- Inform your airline that you plan to use the 240-hour visa-free transit, and they will notify Chinese immigration on your behalf.
- Upon arrival at the airport, proceed to the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) desk, where immigration officials will review your documents and issue a temporary stay permit.
- Stay within the designated regions, such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, and ensure you depart China within the 240-hour period.
It is important to note that the first and last two hours of your layover will likely be spent on customs and immigration procedures. Additionally, travelling to and from Beijing's city centre can take up to two to three hours, depending on the airport. Therefore, it is recommended to carefully consider your available time before planning any excursions outside the airport.
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If you have a long layover, you can visit Beijing attractions like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) are both sprawling, modern airports with soaring architecture. However, they don't offer many amenities compared to other large airports, so you may want to leave the airport during a long layover.
Travellers from certain countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, do not need a visa to enter China. All you need is a valid passport, a confirmed onward plane ticket, and a completed arrival/departure card. If you are from a country that does not have visa-free access, like Algeria or India, you will need a visa to leave the airport.
If you have a long layover and want to visit Beijing attractions, you should first check with your airline or the airport to confirm that you have enough time to leave the airport. The first and last two hours of your layover will be spent on customs and immigration, and travelling to and from the city centre can take about two hours from Capital Airport and three hours from Daxing Airport.
If you decide to leave the airport, you can take a taxi or the Airport Express train to Beixinqiao for 25 RMB. From there, you can walk to Guijie for food and the hutongs of Gulou. You can also walk around the drum tower and bell tower and see Shichahai Lake. However, it can be difficult to find a taxi near the Forbidden City, so make sure you leave enough time to get back to the airport.
If you want to visit the Great Wall during your layover, it is nearly impossible without insider help due to heavy traffic jams. It is recommended that you join a tour group or take the shuttle bus Beijing Railway Station Line to the terminal, which takes about one hour.
Other attractions in Beijing that you can visit during a long layover include the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and Tian'anmen Square.
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If your layover is at night, it's recommended to rest in the airport or a nearby hotel
If you have a long layover at Beijing Airport, it is recommended that you rest in the airport or a nearby hotel, especially if your layover is at night. This is because travelling to and from Beijing city centre takes about 2 hours from Beijing Capital Airport and 3 hours from Beijing Daxing Airport. This means that you would only have 1 to 2 hours of free time if you decide to leave the airport.
If you are set on leaving the airport, you should be aware that some travellers have reported being denied exit from the airport for layovers shorter than 8 hours. This is possibly due to concerns about insufficient transit time. If your layover is 8 hours or less, it is recommended that you check with your airline or the airport before making plans to leave the airport.
If you do decide to leave the airport, you will need to pass the health/quarantine check and the immigration inspection. You will need a valid passport, a visa (if required), and a completed arrival/departure card. If you are eligible for the visa-free transit policy, you will need to submit an application to the immigration inspection authority to leave the restricted area.
If you would prefer to stay in the airport, Beijing Daxing Airport has an in-terminal hotel called Aerotel Beijing. This hotel is located both landside and airside, a 10-minute walk from the international check-in area and a 5-minute walk from the domestic check-in area. The hotel offers a variety of room types, free and fast Wi-Fi, IPTV, high-flow showers, and a wide variety of pillow options. The hotel also has a 24/7 Library Lounge, an around-the-clock fitness centre, and a game room.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are a citizen of certain countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, you are eligible for a visa-free transit policy. This allows you to enter Beijing without a visa for up to 240 hours. However, if you are not a citizen of these countries, you will need to apply for a visa or a temporary entry permit to leave the airport during transit.
To obtain a temporary entry permit, you must first ensure that you qualify for the relevant requirements. Then, inform the airline that you will be applying for a 24-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit policy. After landing, follow the signs to the international transfer (leaving the airport) channel. Fill out an arrival card and a temporary entry application form, and queue for submission. The immigration authority will then decide whether to grant you a temporary entry permit.
The length of your layover will determine how much time you have to explore Beijing. For a layover of 6 hours or less, it is recommended that you stay in the airport due to limited time. For layovers of 8-12 hours, you may be able to visit 1-2 attractions in the city, but you will need to return to the airport early enough to pass through customs and immigration. For longer layovers of 24 hours or more, you will have more time to explore multiple attractions and possibly take a day trip outside of Beijing.
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