Navigating Beijing Airport: English Signage And Wayfinding

Beijing Capital International Airport is the second busiest airport in the world by passenger numbers. It is divided into three terminals, with Terminal 3 being the second-largest airport terminal in the world by area size. The airport has English signage, and announcements are made in both English and Mandarin. However, in 2022, English names on subway signs were replaced with Romanized Chinese ahead of the Winter Olympics. This caused some controversy, with some people speculating that Beijing was pushing back against English amid its ideological war against Western influence.

Beijing airport signage in English

Beijing Capital International Airport is the second busiest airport in the world by passenger numbers. It is the primary airport serving Beijing, China, and is a hub for Air China and Hainan Airlines. The airport has three terminals, with Terminal 3 alone being bigger than all five of London Heathrow's terminals.

English Signage

English signage is present at Beijing Capital International Airport. Signs throughout Terminal 3 are in both Chinese and English, and often in Korean as well.

In 2022, English names on Beijing subway signs were replaced by romanized Chinese ahead of the Winter Olympics. However, English translations were still displayed in brackets underneath. This change was also implemented on some airport subway signs, with "Terminal 2" of the Beijing airport becoming "2 Hao Hangzhanlou" in Chinese, with the English translation underneath.

Navigating the Airport

Despite the presence of English signage, some travellers have reported difficulties navigating Beijing Capital Airport due to its size and complexity. It is recommended that travellers allow for additional time when flying from Terminal 3, as check-in closes 45 minutes before flights depart.

Transportation to and from the Airport

The Capital Airport Express is the simplest way to get to and from the airport, with trains running every 10-15 minutes during operating hours. Shuttle buses are also available and are a cheaper option, with one-way trips costing around 15-24 RMB.

Taxis are readily available at the airport, but it is important to take a taxi from the stand outside, rather than from touts or desks inside, to ensure a regulated fare. It is also recommended to have the name of your destination printed in Chinese to show the driver, as many drivers are recent arrivals from the countryside and may not know the city well.

Other Amenities and Services

Free WiFi is available at the airport, but compliance with local laws requires users to provide a Chinese phone number or scan their passport to obtain an access code. Western apps like Google, Facebook, etc., may not work due to censorship in China.

There are numerous restaurants and coffee shops in the departure and transit areas, and free water units are installed near the washrooms. Comfortable seating and charging points are available at most departure gates.

Money exchange services are available, and several major Chinese banks have branches at the airport that are open 24 hours a day. ATMs are also available, but it is important to check for international access symbols like Maestro, Plus, or Cirrus.

While English signage is present at Beijing Capital International Airport, it may still be beneficial to have translations or the name of your destination printed in Chinese to facilitate navigation and communication with staff and taxi drivers. The airport is large and complex, so allowing extra time and familiarizing yourself with the layout beforehand can help ensure a smoother experience.

Pinyin signage at Beijing airport

Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest of the two international airports serving Beijing, China. The airport is located 32 km (20 mi) northeast of Beijing's city centre and covers an area of 3,657 acres (14.8 sq. km).

In recent years, there has been a push by the Chinese government to remove English from signage, which has been interpreted as a pushback against English amid ongoing conflict with the West. In 2022, ahead of the Winter Olympics, Beijing replaced certain English words on subway signs with romanised Chinese. For example, the English word "station" was replaced with "Zhan," which is the pinyin or romanised version of the Chinese character. Similarly, the name "Terminal 2" of the Beijing airport was changed to "2 Hao Hangzhanlou".

Despite this shift, travellers who passed through Beijing Capital International Airport in 2016 and 2024 reported that English signage was still prevalent at the airport. One traveller noted that Beijing Capital International Airport is used to accommodating international travellers, and officials are either able to speak enough English to communicate or direct people with signs. Another traveller observed that, excluding passengers from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, at least 80% of people passing through the airport do not speak Chinese, so English signage is important.

In addition to English signage, the airport provides other accommodations for international travellers. For example, there is a dedicated transportation hub with designated traffic lanes for airport buses, taxis, and private vehicles, allowing travellers to exit their vehicles and enter the airport within five minutes. The airport also has a Capital Airport Express train that connects to the city centre, and shuttle buses that connect the airport's three terminals.

English translations of signs at Beijing airport

Beijing Capital International Airport is the primary airport serving Beijing, China. It is the world's second busiest airport by passenger numbers. The airport has three terminals, with flights and airlines serving domestic and international destinations.

Signs throughout Terminal 3 are in both Chinese and English, with some also in Korean. In the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Beijing government launched a campaign to correct wrong English translations on road signs and names of public venues. This included the airport, which was recently upgraded and extended to meet the needs of the Games.

However, in recent years, there has been a shift away from English. In 2023, dual-language road signs in Beijing were replaced with Chinese-only signs. This change also affected the Beijing subway system, where English names were replaced with Romanized Chinese. Despite this, travellers report that the airport remains "English-friendly", with English signage and announcements in Mandarin and English.

While English translations at the airport may be helpful for non-Chinese speakers, it is recommended that travellers have their hotel address printed in Chinese to show taxi drivers, as many drivers are recent arrivals from the countryside and may not know the city well.

Chinese-only signs at Beijing airport

Beijing Capital International Airport is a large, modern airport that was upgraded to meet the needs of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In the lead-up to the event, the Beijing government launched a campaign to correct wrong English translations on road signs and names of public venues.

However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards removing English from signs in Beijing. According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), dual-language road signs in Beijing are being replaced with Chinese-only signs. This has also extended to the subway, where English names are being replaced by Romanized Chinese.

Despite these changes, some signs at Beijing Capital International Airport continue to be displayed in both Chinese and English. This includes signs in Terminal 3, which is considered an architectural masterpiece and is the second-largest airport terminal in the world by area size. In contrast, Terminals 1 and 2 are described as underwhelming and functional but not impressive.

While there is a push to remove English from signage in Beijing, it is important to note that the city once encouraged the use of English during the 2008 Olympics, and many signs at the airport remain in both languages.

Navigating Beijing airport as a foreigner

Beijing Capital International Airport is the world's second busiest airport by passenger numbers. It is a large, modern airport that was upgraded to meet the needs of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Wayfinding

The airport has three terminals, with flights and airlines serving domestic and international destinations. Terminal 3 is the largest, and alone is bigger than all five of London Heathrow's terminals. Signs throughout Terminal 3 are in both Chinese and English, and often in Korean as well.

Transport

The airport is accessible by the Capital Airport Express train, which runs from Terminal 2 to Beixinqiao, with stops at Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen, and Dongzhimen. The train runs every 10-15 minutes from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm. The ride takes 25 minutes, and you will need to buy a separate ticket to ride the city subway.

There are also several airport shuttle buses that run to different locations throughout Beijing. A one-way trip costs around 15-24 RMB.

Taxis are also available at the airport. The taxi driver will most likely not speak English, so it is recommended to have the name of your destination in Chinese characters. A taxi from the airport to the city should cost between 70 and 120 RMB and takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.

Amenities

There are restaurants, coffee shops, and vending machines in the departure and transit areas. Some shops accept other currencies but provide Chinese yuan as return change. Free water units are installed near the washrooms. There are comfortable seating areas and long relaxing chairs at most departure gates.

Charging points are available at each gate, but with limited outlets and USB ports.

Tips

• Allow sufficient time for check-in, exit procedures, and security.
• Have the name of your hotel in Chinese characters, as well as the phone number, to ensure the taxi driver can find your destination.
• Be aware of scams involving touts or impostors posing as taxi company staff. Insist on using the meter and pay the fee shown, plus the airport expressway toll.
• Download the Alipay app to use the vending machines.
• To use the free airport Wi-Fi, you will need to scan your passport at an automated registration machine, provide a mobile phone number, or show your ID at the help desk.

Frequently asked questions