Sachin Walls
Beijing Capital Airport is a sprawling, modern airport that serves as a significant gateway into China. If you have a long layover, there are plenty of things to do at the airport and beyond. Within the airport, you can find casual dining options, luxury shopping, traditional Chinese crafts, and airport lounges. If you have at least eight hours between flights, you can explore Beijing's city centre, which is 32km away and accessible by train, shuttle bus, or taxi. Popular attractions include the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace, Wangfujing Snack Street, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Transport to the city centre | Beijing West Railway Station Line, Beijing South Railway Station Line, Beijing Railway Station Line, Airport Express train, subway, taxi |
| Transport time to the city centre | 1-1.5 hours by taxi, 30-35 minutes by Airport Express train |
| Transport cost to the city centre | ¥25 by Airport Express train, ¥35 by train to Dongzhimen |
| Attractions in the city centre | The Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Wangfujing Snack Street |
| Attractions outside the city centre | Mutianyu Great Wall |
| Attractions near the airport | Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven |
| Airport amenities | Food options, teahouses, cafes, duty-free shops, souvenir stores, lounges, gardens, fish ponds, free WiFi |
| Nearby hotels | Aerotel Beijing Airport, Holiday Inn Express Beijing Airport, Hilton Beijing Capital Airport, Beijing Airport Lufthansa Hotel |
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What You'll Learn
Visit the Great Wall of China
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is a sprawling, modern airport that serves as a significant gateway into China. The airport is located 32 km from the city centre, which usually takes around an hour to travel between. If you have a long layover at Beijing Airport, you may be able to visit the Great Wall of China, one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
The Great Wall of China is about a 1.5-hour drive from Beijing Airport. The two most popular sections of the Great Wall are Mutianyu and Badaling, which are located about 70 km north of Beijing's city centre. Mutianyu is the closest section to the airport, followed by Badaling, which is located 73 km northwest of the airport. It takes about 1.5 hours to get to Mutianyu by taxi and costs about 180 yuan ($27) each way, including the toll fee. A taxi to Badaling will take about 2 hours and cost about 280 yuan ($42) each way.
If you have plenty of time, you can take the Airport Express and change to Line 13, then take the S2 train to get to the Great Wall at Badaling. The journey will take about 3 hours. Tickets can be purchased at any of the entrances, and it is recommended to bring cash.
There are a few ways to get to the Great Wall from Beijing Airport. You can join a tour group, or you can explore independently. If you join a tour group, there are several reputable and well-priced tour operators that offer a range of tours, including city sightseeing, panda tours, and quick visits to the Great Wall. They will pick you up at the airport and ensure you are back in time for your flight. If you want to explore independently, you can navigate public trains and taxis.
There are also a few private taxi drivers at the airport who can take you to the Great Wall. This can cost anywhere from 500 CNY to 1000 CNY ($72 - $145 USD), depending on your negotiating skills and the number of passengers. If you want to hire a driver for the full day to visit the Great Wall and other attractions in the city, the cost is typically 1000 CNY.
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Explore the Summer Palace
If you're looking for things to do around Beijing Airport, the Summer Palace is a great option for a leisure trip during your layover. Located in the Haidian District, it is about 38-39km from Beijing Capital International Airport, and it will take you around an hour by car. The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China, built for the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is modelled on West Lake in Hangzhou, combining elegant architecture, the tranquil Kunming Lake, and verdant Longevity Hill.
There are plenty of ways to explore and enjoy the Summer Palace. You can climb up Longevity Hill to admire Tibetan Buddhist architecture and take in a bird's-eye view of the entire garden. Stroll around Kunming Lake and visit the exquisite pavilions and halls, such as the Hall of Jade Ripples, which offers the best view of the lake and the hill. Don't miss the chance to take a boat ride on Kunming Lake for a more leisurely way to enjoy the scenery. The Palace Museum, located within the Summer Palace, is the largest and highest-level cultural relics exhibition hall in China's classical gardens. It features six thematic exhibition rooms with numerous precious cultural relics of the Summer Palace on display.
The Summer Palace provides various guide services to enhance your visit. They offer audio guides in 19 languages, available at several locations, including the East Palace Gate and North Palace Gate. You can also follow the "Summer Palace" WeChat Official Account to access a smartphone tour guide with a "Guide Map" and a "Guide to Summer Palace".
To get to the Summer Palace from Beijing Airport, you can take the airport express at Terminal 3 to Sanyuanqiao Stop. From there, walk to the Sanyuanqiao Metro Station and take the metro line to Haidian Huangzhuang Station. Transfer to metro line 4 and get off at North Palace Gate Station or Xiyuan Station. Alternatively, you can opt for a private car service that will pick you up from the airport and take you directly to the Summer Palace. Remember to consider the potential for traffic jams, especially during peak hours or on weekends and holidays.
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Try traditional Beijing cuisine
Beijing Capital Airport is a sprawling, modern airport that serves as a significant gateway into China. If you have a long layover, you might want to leave the airport and explore the city's culinary delights. It is recommended that you have at least 8 hours between flights if you want to do this, as the airport is 32 km from the city centre, and with traffic, this can take 1 hour each way.
Beijing is a developing city, with traditional China giving way to Western-style shops, restaurants, and bars. However, there are still plenty of places to try authentic Beijing cuisine.
One great destination to sample traditional Beijing dishes is Wangfujing Snack Street. Here, you'll find food stalls serving a wide array of authentic dishes, including noodles in black bean sauce, stewed liver, douzhir (fermented soybean milk), and quick-fired tripe. You can also try snacks like Tanghulu (candied fruit skewers) and roasted chestnuts. While strolling, you may encounter buskers performing traditional Beijing folk arts, such as sugar painting and dough figure making.
For a real taste of ancient Beijing, head to Dadong restaurant to try their famous Peking duck, or Beijing kaoya. This dish was created for the emperor many centuries ago, and the ducks are washed and hung to dry for 1-2 days, glazed with honey and spices, and baked in an oven fuelled with pear wood.
If you don't have time to leave the airport, there are still plenty of food options inside. You can enjoy casual meals at to-go kiosks, teahouses, and restaurants serving different Chinese cuisines.
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Shop for souvenirs
Beijing offers a wide variety of souvenirs that you can buy to remember your trip by. If you're looking to stay near the airport, you can shop for souvenirs at the Beijing Capital Airport, which has several souvenir stores.
If you have a longer layover, you can head to the city centre, which is about 32 km from the airport and usually takes an hour each way. The Airport Express train connects to downtown's Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao stations in under 30 minutes for ¥25.
- Chinese knots: These decorative handicrafts are made from a single piece of thread and symbolize luck, prosperity, and longevity. They come in various forms and sizes, often featuring symbols like the dragon or phoenix. You can find them at the Panjiayuan Antique Market, Liulichang Street, or the Forbidden City.
- Tea: Beijing has a rich tea culture, and you can find a vast selection of teas, such as jasmine tea, green tea, and pu-erh tea. Tea sets, including teapots and cups made from fine porcelain or yixing clay, are also popular souvenirs.
- Traditional Chinese toys: Look for wooden puzzles, spinning tops, and kites, often handcrafted and painted, making them great gifts for children and collectors.
- Snacks: Beijing is famous for its unique snacks, such as Peking duck-flavoured snacks, traditional sweets like hawthorn candy, and preserved fruits. These treats are often packaged in decorative boxes, making them ideal souvenirs.
- Silk: Silk is a symbol of Beijing's rich and ancient culture, representing luxury and elegance. The Silk Market in Beijing offers a vast array of silk products, from clothing to home decor.
- Peking Opera Masks: These masks are a unique part of Beijing's cultural heritage and can be found in many souvenir shops.
- Red lanterns: An iconic symbol of Chinese culture, red lanterns represent good fortune and happiness. They are traditionally made from silk or paper with bamboo frames and are used during festivals like Chinese New Year.
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Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City (if you have a long layover)
Beijing Capital International Airport is a significant gateway to China, and if you have a long layover, you can explore some of Beijing's top attractions. One option is to visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, which are both must-see destinations in Beijing. The airport is about 40 minutes away from these sites by subway, and you can also take a shuttle bus or taxi.
To get to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City by subway, you can take the Airport Express train from the airport to Dongzhimen Station. From there, transfer to Subway Line 2 and get off at Qianmen Station. The square and the Forbidden City will be within walking distance from there. You can also take a shuttle bus to Beijing West Railway Station and then walk to Yangshikou Bus Stop to catch Bus No. 8 to East Qianmen. Alternatively, you can take a taxi directly to Tiananmen Square, which will take about an hour and cost around $15 during the day and $22 at night.
Tiananmen Square is named after the Tiananmen Gate, also known as the Gate of Heavenly Peace, which was built in 1415 during the Ming Dynasty. The square is bordered by the National Museum to the east and the Great Hall of the People to the west, with the National Centre for the Performing Arts, an impressive dome built in a man-made lake, located behind the Great Hall. To enter the Forbidden City, you pass through the Tiananmen Gate and into the ancient Imperial City, where Chinese emperors resided for 500 years. The Forbidden City contains almost 1,000 buildings and has been a World Heritage site since 1987.
If you have time, you can also explore other nearby attractions, such as the Summer Palace, a graceful resort built for the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty, or the Temple of Heaven, a sacred place during the Ming and Qing dynasties. For a quick pick-me-up, you can try a traditional Chinese foot massage at Le SPA in Terminal 3 of the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Beijing Airport has plenty of options to keep you entertained during a layover. You can eat at one of the many restaurants serving Chinese and other Asian cuisines, as well as Western fast-food chains. There are also airport lounges, gardens, and shops to explore. If you have at least eight hours between flights, you can head into Beijing city centre to see famous sights such as the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace, and Tiananmen Square.
The Airport Express train connects the airport to downtown Beijing in under 30 minutes. You can also take a taxi, but this can take between one and 1.5 hours, depending on traffic.
The Hilton Beijing Airport hotel, which is connected to the airport, offers paid access to its fitness centre, indoor heated swimming pool, and spa.
It's a good idea to familiarise yourself with Beijing's subway lines and stations, as well as some basic Mandarin phrases, before your visit.
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