Beijing Capital Airport Express Train

 

Route: Beixinqiao ↔ Dongzhimen ↔ Sanyuanqiao ↔ T3 ↔ T2


(Identification Color: silver grey       )
 
► Open Date: July 19th, 2008
► Total Length: 29.8 km (18.5 mi)
► Stations: 5
► Highest Speed: 110 km/h (56 mi/h)
► Boarding Sites: -2F of No.2 Parking Lot in T2 of Beijing Capital Airport; 2F of No.3 Parking Lot in T3; Beixinqiao Subway Station; Dongzhimen Subway Station; Sanyuanqiao Subway Station
► Ticket Price: CNY25 per person

 

Capital Airport Express Train Facts

Airport Express Train
Capital Airport Express Train

Beijing Airport Express Train offers a rapid rail transfer between downtown area and Beijing Capital International Airport. Compared with Airport Shuttle Bus, the Airport Express is faster and more frequent. The single journey only takes 36 minutes. The cost is a little more expensive than the shuttle bus but much cheaper than taxi. Please note that Beixinqiao, Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao stations don't allow in-town check-in. There is no station in T1, so Airport Express passengers need to walk or take the Free Cross Terminal Shuttle to T1.

Beixinqiao Station allows transfer with subway line 5, Dongzhimen Station allows transfer with subway line 2 and line 13, while Sanyuanqiao is connected with subway line 10, but the transfer is not free. Passengers need to buy separate tickets. Those with large luggage are not suggested to board the Airport Express Train during peak hours because of the crowds, especially when changing to downtown subway lines.
 

Service Hours of Capital Airport Express Train

Beixinqiao: 5:56 – 22:26
Dongzhimen: 6:00 – 23:34
Sanyuanqiao: 6:04 – 23:28
T3: 6:22 – 22:52
T2: 6:36 – 23:10

Train Frequency: 10 minutes
 

Beijing Capital Airport Express Train
Beijing Capital Airport Express Train Map
 

Beijing Capital Airport Express Train Schedule

 
Stations To Beixinqiao (Downtown) To T2 (Airport) 
First Train Last Train First Train Last Train
Beixinqiao -- -- 5:56 22:26
Dongzhimen 7:01 23:34 6:00 22:30
Sanyuanqiao 6:55 23:28 6:04 22:34
T3 6:22 22:52 6:22 22:52
T2 6:36 23:10 -- --


 Beixinqiao Station:
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
Nearby Bus / Subway Routes: 82, 107, 135, 612, 13, 84, 116, 117, Night Line 6, Subway Line 5


 Dongzhimen Station:
Surroundings: Dongzhimen Long-distance Bus Station, Guijie Street, Dongzhimen Hospital, China Youth Daily Office, Overseas Chinese History Museum of China
Nearby Bus/Subway Routes: 401, 416, 980, 404, 106, 852, 918, 3, 418, Subway Line 2 & Line 13

 Sanyuanqiao Station:
Surroundings: Xiaguangli Community, Phoenix City Community, Sanyuan Park
Nearby Bus/Subway Routes: 359, 401, 403, 404, 641, 847, 852, 915, 916, 980, Subway Line 10
 

How to Buy Airport Express Train Tickets

At each of the five stations, passengers could purchase a card ticket by cash from the manual ticket office or the ticket vending machines which have Chinese and English services. Please keep the ticket safe since it will be reclaimed when exiting from the express train station. The ticket fare could also be paid using the Beijing transportation smart card with a balance of more than CNY 25.
 

How to Take Airport Express from Downtown to Capital Airport

1. Enter into Beixinqiao or Dongzhimen subway station at ground level and take the elevator downstairs to B1.
2. Purchase ticket and go through security check.
3. Take the elevator downstairs to B2 of Beixinqiao Station or B4 of Dongzhimen Station.
4. Wait and board the Airport Express Train.
 

How to Take Airport Express from Capital Airport to Downtown

1. Follow the signs to the Airport Express Train Station.
2. Purchase a ticket and enter into the waiting platform.
3. Take Airport Express to Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen, or Beixinqiao.
4. Get off the train and return the ticket.
5. Exit from the station or purchase another ticket to transfer to subway lines.

 Capital Airport Transfer Service: offering airport pick-up and see-off services with professional drivers.

Airport Transportation Sign
Airport Transportation Sign
Capital Airport Express Train
Interior of the Express Train
 

How to Get to Popular Sites by Airport Express

1. Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City:
Plan A: Airport Express to Dongzhimen → Subway Line 2 to Jianguomen → Subway Line 1 to Tian'anmendong (Exit D)
Plan B: Airport Express to Beixinqiao → Subway Line 5 to Dongdan → Subway Line 1 to Tian'anmendong (Exit D)
2. Beijing Railway Station: Airport Express to Dongzhimen → Subway Line 2 to Beijing Railway Station
3. West Railway Station:
Plan A: Airport Express to Beixinqiao → Subway Line 5 to Ciqikou → Line 7 to West Railway Station
Plan B: Airport Express to Dongzhimen → Subway Line 2 to Xuanwumen → Line 4 to Caishikou → Line 7 to West Railway Station
4.  South Railway Station:
Plan A: Airport Express to Dongzhimen → Subway Line 2 to Xuanwumen → Line 4 to South Railway Station
Plan B: Airport Express to Beixinqiao → Subway Line 5 to Puhuangyu → Line 14 to South Railway Station
5.  North Railway Station: Airport Express to Dongzhimen → Subway Line 2 to Xizhimen (Exit A2) → Walk north around 350 meters.
 

- Last updated on Apr. 23, 2024 by Kate Liu -
Questions & Answers on Beijing Capital Airport Express Train
Asked by Nora from HUNGARY | Apr. 23, 2024 02:02Reply
Public bus options from Beijing Airport T3 to city center in the early morning
Hello,
I'm a foreigner tourist. With international flight I will arrive Beijing Airport T3 after 4:00 a.m. on a weekday (Friday) in May. I hope I will be ready with the entering process within 1-1.5 hour. I have seen that express train starts only at 6:22 form T3 to city center direction.
Can you recommend me any public bus option from T3 to the city center between 5:00-6:22 a.m. (earlier then the train)? I'd like to go to my hotel: Sunworld Hotel Wangfujing. Can you send me any bus/combination option in this early morning time?
And what would be the approx. cost?
Can I buy ticket at a ticket office paying with cash?
Thank you for your help!
Answers (2)
Answered by Randy | Apr. 23, 2024 22:57
00Reply


Which airport in Beijing? There are two of them. Suppose it's the capital airport. From 05:00 - 06:22 am, you can take the early city buses to the hotel, but it takes about 2h 15min and CNY 7 and you need to walk for about 2km, exhausting and time-consuming. And if you take the first express train and metro, it takes only about one hour and only 630m walking distance. So considering the long duration, wait for the express line at 06:22 is more recommended, taking CNY 28.
The city buses route:
Get out from the terminal and walk southward to take bus 850 on Yijing Rd., and get off at Fangjiazhuang, then walk southwest to the T-junction and turn right to take bus no. 110 to Dengshi Dongkou (灯市东口), then walk south to the T-junction and turn left, walk for about 400m to find the hotel on the left.
Express train and metro:
Take express train at T3 to Beixinqiao, tranfer to line 5 to Dengshikou, take Exit A and walk westward along Dengshikou Avenue for 400m to find the hotel.

The 3rd option is taxi, and you can take it anytime you want. Just follow the direction signs to the taxi stand and get onboard. It costs about CNY100-150.
Answered by Nora | Apr. 26, 2024 04:18
00Reply


Thank you, Randy. :)
Yes, capital airport. Thanks for the detailed instructions. Yes, the train+metro seems to be the better option. :)
Asked by René from DENMARK | Mar. 30, 2024 14:35Reply
T3 - Transportation Card
If I want to get a Yikatong Card, where do I get in T3?
Is the "ticket office near the Airport express station?
Answers (3)
Answered by Randy | Apr. 01, 2024 02:27
00Reply


Foreigners wishing to get a Yikatong with passports need to go to the service center in Dongzhimen. So you can't get a card in T3.
Answered by Anna | Apr. 19, 2024 09:33
00Reply


Do you know what time the Airport Express Train starts operating? In MetroMan they give me hours starting at 7:22 a.m. and you say starting at 6:20 a.m.
Thanks
Answered by Rita | Apr. 21, 2024 22:39
00Reply


It departs from T2 at 06:36 to Beixinqiao and 5:56 from Beixinqiao to T3.
Asked by Phillip Cowman from NEW ZEALAND | Mar. 21, 2024 20:23Reply
We arrive at 5:30am and depart at 4:15pm. Is this enough time to visit Beijing city by train?
Answers (1)
Answered by Olivia | Mar. 24, 2024 20:12
00Reply


Yes, you have about half a day sightsee in the city, like Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City...
Asked by mary from MALAYSIA | Mar. 18, 2024 21:05Reply
How do i go from beijing airport to Gubei watertown
is there any direct bus or train?
Answers (3)
Answered by Randy | Mar. 19, 2024 03:00
00Reply


Take the airport express line to Dongzhimen, and take the Gubei Water town special bus line at Dongzhimen to the town.
Answered by Mary | Apr. 03, 2024 07:48
00Reply


How do I book bus ticket without China phone?
Answered by Randy | Apr. 06, 2024 18:54
00Reply


I'm sorry you can only buy it with a China phone number.
Asked by Paul from GERMANY | Jan. 28, 2024 14:30Reply
I come to Beijing and have about 7 hours to my flight to Busan
I arrive Beijing at 6.15 a.m and fly at 14.15 to Busan.It is enough time to visit Tiananmen Squarre within 7 hours and come back to T3 for my flight?
Answers (4)
Answered by Hailey | Jan. 29, 2024 17:10
00Reply


I'm afraid the time is not enough and you may not allowed to get out of the airport to sight-see the city as the transit time is too short.
Answered by Micky | Feb. 06, 2024 04:57
00Reply


From 0:00 on December 1, 2023 to 24:00 on November 30, 2024 (Beijing time), visa requirements for ordinary passport holders of nationals from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Malaysia entering China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit will be waived for a period not exceeding 15 days. Nationals of the aforementioned countries who travel for reasons other than one of the aforementioned countries or stay for more than 15 days will continue to need to apply for a Chinese visa before traveling to Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Answered by Hailey | Feb. 06, 2024 17:28
00Reply


Yes, it is true no visa is needed but still, the transfer time is too short to visit the city.
Answered by Paul | Feb. 10, 2024 12:51
00Reply


But it are almost 8 hours to my next flight and you say it is not enogh time.Why? what does take so long time that I canr reach center of the city?
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