Beijing Capital Airport Express Train

Capital Airport Express Train

The Beijing Subway Capital Airport Express Train, commonly known as the Capital Airport Line, is a dedicated rapid rail link connecting downtown Beijing with Beijing Capital International Airport. The line operates in a unique "Y"-shaped loop: trains depart from Beixinqiao, stop at Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao, proceed to Terminal 3, then reverse to Terminal 2 before returning to the city via Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen back to Beixinqiao.

It is approximately 29.8 km (18.5 mi) long with 5 stations and has a maximum operating speed of 110 km/h (68 mi), making the journey from Dongzhimen to Terminal 3 take about 25 minutes and to Terminal 2 about 30 minutes.


See subway maps for reference.
   Beixinqiao: Transfer with Line 5
 Dongzhimen: Transfer with Line 2 & Line 13
 Sanyuanqiao: Transfer with Line 10 & Line 19

Beijing Capital Airport Express offers a rapid rail transfer between downtown Beijing and Beijing Capital International Airport. Compared with the Airport Shuttle Bus, the Airport Express is faster with a travel time of approximately 30–40 minutes and more frequent with a headway of about 10 minutes. The flat fare is CNY 25 per single journey, which is slightly higher than most shuttle-bus lines at CNY 20–30 but much cheaper than a taxi at CNY 100–150 or more. 

A significant passenger service introduced on December 29, 2025, is the city terminal check-in and baggage drop-off service at Dongzhimen Station. This service, available from 7:30 to 19:30 daily, allows passengers flying on Air China domestic flights departing from Terminal 3 to check in and drop their luggage at the station up to 3 hours before flight departure, enabling them to travel to the airport luggage-free. 

There is no station in Terminal 1, so Capital Airport Express passengers need to walk or take the free inter-terminal shuttle bus to reach T1.

Beijing Capital Airport Express Train Map

 

 Beixinqiao
Surroundings: Dongzhimennei Avenue, Guijie Street, Dongcheng District People's Court, Beijing No. 22 Middle School, Beijing No. 6 Hospital, People's Art Building, Kelin Building, Beijing No. 5 Middle School
Bus Routes: 82, 107, 135, 612, 13, 84, 116, 117

 Dongzhimen
Surroundings: Dongzhimen Long-distance Bus Station, Guijie Street, Dongzhimen Hospital, China Youth Daily Office, Overseas Chinese History Museum of China
Bus Routes:
Exit A: 24, 106, 107, 117, 123, 135, 612, 850, 935
Exit B1, B2, C, & E: 24, 117, 123, 135, 413, 850, 916, 935, 966, 102

 Sanyuanqiao
Surroundings: Xiaguangli Community, Phoenix City Community, Sanyuan Park
Bus Routes:
Exit C: 852, 915, 916, 980
Exit D: 359, 401, 404, 850, 915, 916, 935, 980


 Terminal 3
Surrounding Bus Stop: Capital Airport Terminal 3 Bus Stop
Bus Routes: Capital Airport Bus Routes (Fengtai/ Beijing West Railway Station/ Tianjin/ Tongzhou/ Langfang/ Chaoyang/ Qinghe/ Beijing South Railway Station), Terminal Shuttle Bus

 Terminal 2
Surrounding Bus Stop: Capital Airport Terminal 2 Bus Stop
Bus Routes: Capital Airport Bus Routes (Badaling/ Night Line), Shun 8
 

The Beijing Capital Airport Express operates on a flat fare of CNY 25 per single journey, which is charged separately from the regular subway network. Passengers can purchase tickets through several convenient methods. At any of the five stations, single-journey card tickets can be bought with cash at the manual ticket office or from ticket vending machines that support Chinese and English interfaces. 
 

1. Enter into Beixinqiao or Dongzhimen subway station at ground level and take the elevator downstairs to B1 (concourse level).
2. Purchase a ticket and go through the security check.
3. Take the elevator downstairs to B4 (platform level) at either station.
4. Wait and board the Airport Express train.
 

1. Follow the signs to the Airport Express Train Station (located at B2 of T2 Parking Lot or 2F of T3 Parking Lot).
2. Purchase a ticket and enter the waiting platform.
3. Take the Airport Express to Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen, or Beixinqiao.
4. Get off the train and exit the station.
5. To transfer to other subway lines, purchase another ticket or tap your card again at the transfer station.
 

Airport Transportation Sign

Interior of the Express Train

 

1. Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City

Plan A: Airport Express → Dongzhimen (Transfer to Line 2) → Jianguomen (Transfer to Line 1) → Tian'anmen East (Exit D)  
Plan B: Airport Express → Beixinqiao (Transfer to Line 5) → Dongdan (Transfer to Line 1) → Tian'anmen East (Exit D)

2. Beijing Railway Station

Route: Airport Express → Dongzhimen (Transfer to Line 2) → Beijing Railway Station

3. Beijing West Railway Station

Plan A: Airport Express → Beixinqiao (Transfer to Line 5) → Ciqikou (Transfer to Line 7) → Beijing West Railway Station  
Plan B: Airport Express → Dongzhimen (Transfer to Line 2) → Xuanwumen (Transfer to Line 4) → Caishikou (Transfer to Line 7) → Beijing West Railway Station

4. Beijing South Railway Station

Plan A: Airport Express → Dongzhimen (Transfer to Line 2) → Xuanwumen (Transfer to Line 4) → Beijing South Railway Station  
Plan B: Airport Express → Beixinqiao (Transfer to Line 5) → Puhuangyu (Transfer to Line 14) → Beijing South Railway Station

5. Beijing North Railway Station

Route: Airport Express → Dongzhimen (Transfer to Line 2) → Xizhimen (Exit A2) → Walk north approx. 260–350 m

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Regarding future development, there are plans to add a new station, Wangjing South Station, between Sanyuanqiao and Terminal 3, which will provide a transfer to Line 14 and better serve the Wangjing area . Furthermore, a western extension of the line to connect with Line 15 at Hualikan Station is under consideration as part of long-term plans to enhance airport connectivity and regional integration.