Take the Capital Airport Express to the interchange that suits your hotel: Sanyuanqiao for Lines 10/12, Dongzhimen for 2/13, or Beixinqiao for 5. The ¥25 fare covers the airport line only; onward metro costs extra. After rail closes, the PEK–Beijing West bus runs around the clock. Check its stops and the final hotel leg.
Beijing, the practical part 北京
What’s different here, and the few things that quietly cost people a morning.
Getting in
Take the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao for Lines 10 or 19. For Line 4, change again, for example from Line 19 at Ping’anli. Airport-line fares to Caoqiao are ¥35 standard or ¥50 business class; onward travel costs extra. After rail closes, the PKX–Beijing Railway Station bus runs around the clock. Check the current route and your hotel’s final leg.
Beijing West is on Lines 7 and 9; Beijing South on Lines 4 and 14. The Xi’an trains in our itineraries use Beijing West.
Getting around
Tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex or UnionPay card at any metro gate, including both airport express lines. Your card must allow small no-PIN contactless payments.
Bags are screened at metro entrances, so allow a few extra minutes. Leave knives and flammables at the hotel.
Last trains leave roughly 23:00–23:50 depending on station and direction; airport lines stop earlier. After a late evening, check your station or plan a taxi back.
Easy to get wrong
The two airports are about 80 km apart; a tour or transfer booked to the wrong one costs hours.
Read the airport code (PEK or PKX) on every ticket and give it to your hotel and driver.
The Palace Museum requires an advance, passport-named booking and sells no same-day tickets. Closed Mondays except public holidays.
Book the Palace 7 days ahead. Its valid reservation also admits you to Tiananmen Square; a Square reservation does not admit you to the Palace.
A half-day Palace visit plus Jingshan cannot be promised as a short morning.
Keep the Palace’s full half-day allowance, then add the park’s one hour and transfer time; use a longer block or split them.
The museum’s seasonal last-entry time differs from its usual timetable.
June–October closes 17:30 with last entry 16:30; normally 17:00/16:00. Reserve seven days ahead at 17:00; Monday holiday exceptions follow the dated notice.
Past travel notices
One outing, with room to enjoy it
Prince Kung’s Mansion, then the lakes
225–360 minutes for the full block
Keep the full afternoon and early evening for this outing.
Prince Kung's Mansion Museum →
1.5–2.5 hours
Shichahai (Houhai Lakes) →
2–3 hours