Beijing Airport Arrival Guide: Your First Hour in China (Step by Step)
From landing to your hotel: immigration, customs, SIM cards, transport to city center, and everything you need for a smooth arrival at Beijing Capital or Daxing Airport.
In This Guide
Your first hour in China can be overwhelming if you don't know what's coming. But once you know the steps, it's actually pretty straightforward. Take a deep breath — let's walk through everything from what to do on the plane to settling into your hotel.
Before You Land: What to Do on the Plane
About an hour before landing, the crew will hand out two forms. Fill them out on the plane to save time on the ground.
Arrival Card (Entry/Exit Form)
- Full name (exactly as on passport)
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Visa number (or write "144-hour transit" if visa-free)
- Flight number (on your boarding pass)
- Purpose of visit ("Tourism" or "Sightseeing")
- Address in China (your hotel name and address)
Customs Declaration Form
Most tourists tick "No" to everything. You need to declare if carrying: more than $5,000 USD cash, animals/plants, radio equipment, or commercial goods exceeding duty-free limits. Regular tourist with normal luggage? Breeze right through.
Beijing's Two Airports
Check your ticket carefully — which airport matters for your transfer planning
Airport Comparison
| Feature | Capital Airport (PEK) | Daxing Airport (PKX) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | 25 km northeast | 46 km south |
| Opened | 1958 (expanded) | September 2019 |
| Terminals | 3 terminals (T1, T2, T3) | Single terminal |
| Main Airlines | Air China, United, Lufthansa, ANA, Emirates | China Southern, China Eastern, some intl. |
| Crowds | Busier at peak times | Generally less chaotic |
| Best for | Hotels near Forbidden City / hutongs | Southern Beijing hotels |
Capital Airport (PEK) Terminal Details
- Terminal 1: Hainan Airlines and smaller domestic carriers
- Terminal 2: China Southern, China Eastern, SkyTeam alliance (Delta, Korean Air)
- Terminal 3: The big one — Air China hub, most international carriers. Designed by Norman Foster. Has an automated people-mover train between sections (~2 min).
Daxing Airport (PKX)
Designed by Zaha Hadid, shaped like a giant starfish. One unified terminal — no confusing T1/T2/T3 situation. Modern, intuitive, generally shorter wait times for immigration.
Step-by-Step: Capital Airport (PEK)
From touchdown to the arrivals hall
Follow "Arrivals" or "Immigration" (入境检查) signs. In T3, you may take the automated people-mover train. Signs are bilingual Chinese/English throughout.
Join the "Foreigners" (外国人) line — NOT the Chinese Citizens line. Wait time: 10-45 minutes depending on flight volume.
What Immigration Will Check
- Passport + arrival card (filled on plane)
- Visa or 144-hour transit documentation
- Purpose of visit — say "Tourism"
- Hotel name
- How long you're staying
- Return/onward ticket (occasionally, especially for transit entries)
- Fingerprint scan (both index fingers, 5 seconds, routine)
- Photo capture (automatic camera, look straight ahead)
Follow signs to "Baggage Claim" (行李提取). Check screens for your flight number and carousel. Bags may already be waiting if immigration took a while. If missing, find the airline baggage counter before exiting — it's much harder to file a claim after.
Green Channel (nothing to declare) — 95% of tourists use this. Walk straight through. Red Channel — for large cash amounts or commercial goods. Normal tourist with personal items? Green channel, no hesitation.
You're in! Currency exchange, SIM card counters, and transport options are all here. The hardest part is over.
Step-by-Step: Daxing Airport (PKX)
Same process as PEK but in a newer, more intuitive building.
Key Differences at Daxing
| Feature | Daxing vs Capital |
|---|---|
| Terminal | Single terminal — follow signs downward, one clear path |
| Immigration | Same process — tends to have shorter wait times |
| Layout | Five-pointed star design — intuitive despite looking complex |
| Transport hub | Directly below terminal — take escalators down |
SIM Card / eSIM: Your First Priority
You need mobile data the moment you leave the airport
Connectivity Options Compared
| Option | Cost | Setup | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM (recommended) | $5-20 | Before trip | eSIM-compatible phones |
| Airport SIM card | 200-300 RMB | 10-15 min at airport | Any unlocked phone |
| Pocket WiFi | 30-50 RMB/day | Pickup at airport | Groups sharing |
Option 1: eSIM (Set Up BEFORE You Leave Home)
My preferred recommendation. Airalo is the most popular — buy a China plan through their app, install the profile at home, toggle on when you land. Also check Nomad eSIM, Holafly, or Ubigi.
Option 2: Airport SIM Card
Both airports have China Mobile and China Unicom counters in arrivals. Tourist SIM with 20GB/30 days: ~200-300 RMB. Need your passport. Staff speak basic English. 10-15 minutes to set up.
Option 3: Pocket WiFi
Rent a portable device at the airport. Good for groups (multiple connections). 30-50 RMB/day. One more device to charge and carry though.
Getting to City Center from Capital Airport (PEK)
Ranked by our recommendation
Transport Options Compared
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express (best value) | 25 RMB (~$3.50) | 25 min to Dongzhimen | Solo travelers, couples |
| Taxi | 80-120 RMB | 40-90 min | Lots of luggage, door-to-door |
| Private transfer | 300-500 RMB | 40-90 min | Families, late-night arrivals |
| Airport bus | 16-30 RMB | 60-90 min | Budget travelers, late night |
Airport Express Train (Best Value)
Route: T3 → T2 → Sanyuanqiao (Line 10) → Dongzhimen (Lines 2 & 13). Every 10 minutes during peak. Hours: ~6:20 AM to 10:50 PM. Buy tickets from machines (English option available) or tap with Alipay/transit card.
Taxi (Most Convenient)
Base fare: 13 RMB for first 3 km, then ~2.3 RMB/km. Accept cash (RMB) and most accept Alipay/WeChat Pay.
Private Transfer (Most Comfortable)
Book through your hotel, Klook, or GetYourGuide. Driver meets you in arrivals with a sign. 300-500 RMB for standard sedan. Especially good for families and late-night arrivals.
Airport Bus (Cheapest)
Multiple routes to Xidan, Beijing Railway Station, etc. Some run 24 hours (night bus to Xidan is a lifesaver for late arrivals). Signage mostly in Chinese — have your destination written in Chinese.
Getting to City Center from Daxing Airport (PKX)
Transport Options from Daxing
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daxing Airport Express | 35 RMB (~$5) | 19 min to Caoqiao | Transfer to Line 10, total ~50-60 min to center |
| Taxi | 150-200 RMB | 50-80 min | More expensive due to distance |
| Didi (ride-hailing) | 130-180 RMB | 50-80 min | Enter destination in app, no language barrier |
First Things to Do at Your Hotel
Handle these before you crash for the night
Hotels do this automatically when you check in — they scan your passport and submit the registration. You don't need to do anything extra. If staying at an Airbnb/with friends, your host must take you to the nearest police station to register. Non-negotiable.
Connect to hotel WiFi and test immediately. Blocked without VPN: Google (all services), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Telegram, most Western news sites. If it doesn't work, try different servers or protocols.
Link your international Visa or Mastercard. Test by buying a water bottle at the hotel shop. Many places in Beijing no longer accept cash easily — you'll use Alipay constantly.
Didi (taxis), Baidu Maps (navigation — Google Maps doesn't work), WeChat (messaging + payments), Google Translate (download Chinese offline pack).
Essential Apps: Download BEFORE Your Trip
Some are impossible to install inside the Great Firewall
Must-Have Apps
| App | Purpose | When to Set Up |
|---|---|---|
| VPN (ExpressVPN / Astrill) | Access Google, WhatsApp, social media | Before trip (critical) |
| Alipay | Mobile payments everywhere | Before trip |
| Messaging, payments, QR codes | Before trip | |
| Didi | Ride-hailing (China's Uber) | Before trip |
| Baidu Maps | Navigation (Google Maps broken in China) | Before trip |
| Google Translate | Translation + camera feature | Before trip + download Chinese offline pack |
| Pleco | Chinese dictionary, camera OCR | Before trip |
| Trip.com | Book trains, flights, hotels | Anytime |
| MetroMan | Offline subway maps | Before trip |
Pre-Landing Checklist
Screenshot this and reference on the plane:
| Task | When |
|---|---|
| VPN downloaded and tested | Before trip |
| Alipay account created, card linked | Before trip |
| WeChat installed, account created | Before trip |
| Didi app installed, payment added | Before trip |
| Baidu Maps downloaded | Before trip |
| Google Translate + Chinese offline pack | Before trip |
| eSIM purchased and installed | Before trip |
| Hotel address saved (in Chinese characters) | Before trip |
| Arrival card filled out | On the plane |
| Customs form filled out | On the plane |
| SIM activated / eSIM toggled on | After landing |
Common Mistakes First-Timers Make
Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Joining Chinese Citizens immigration line | Look for "Foreigners" (外国人) signs |
| Not having cash | Get 500-1,000 RMB at airport ATM or exchange |
| Forgetting VPN before arriving | Download at home — can't get it in China |
| Taking unlicensed taxi | Always use official taxi queue outside |
| Panicking about language | Airports have excellent English signage |
What If Your Flight Arrives Late at Night?
Late-Night Options
| Option | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Express | Until ~10:50 PM | If you miss it, not an option |
| Taxis | 24/7 | Shorter queue at night, 20% late-night surcharge after 11 PM |
| Airport bus | Some routes all night | Night bus to Xidan most useful for tourists |
| Didi | 24/7 | Fewer drivers late, possible surge pricing |
| Airport hotel | Always | Both airports have nearby hotels — smart for midnight arrivals |
You've Got This
Thousands of foreign tourists arrive in Beijing every single day and figure it out just fine. The airports are well-organized, the transportation is world-class, and Chinese people are genuinely helpful to lost-looking foreigners.
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