Beijing Airports Layover and Transit Visa Guide 2024

Currently there are 2 major airports in Beijing serving passengers, namely Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场 IATA: PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (北京大兴国际机场 IATA: PKX), which was put into use by the end of September, 2019. Please note Beijing Capital International Airport is much closer to the downtown area, and we suggest book a flight to Beijing Capital Airport if possible.

Beijing Capital Airport is the port for 24-Hour Direct Visa-free Transit and also the port for 144-Hour Visa-free Transit. Compared with Beijing West Railway Station, the other valid port of entry in Beijing, Beijing Capital International Airport is much more frequently used for its excellent location, convenient transportation and more access to foreign cities. Also, Beijing Daxing International Airport has open 144 Hour Transit Visa Free for foreign travelers. For more related details about requirements, applications and recommended Beijing layover tours, please visit our Beijing 144 Hour Visa Guide!

Address: West Airport Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China (北京市朝阳区机场西路)

Beijing Capital Airport is located about 32km (20 miles) northeast of the city center. Beijing Capital International Airport is the major international airport serving Beijing. Connected with over 132 domestic air routes to 160 cities in China and more than 120 routes to more than 130 destinations abroad, Beijing Capital Airport is the busiest airport in China and one of the top ranking busiest airports in the world. It plays an irreplaceable role as an key hub, for connecting airlines among Europe, Asia and North America. Passenger can get to/leave the airport by taxi, rail (Beijing Airport Express), airport shuttle bus, private car and intercity bus conveniently.

Beijing Capital International Airport Location Map

Transfer from Beijing Capital Airport to Major Attractions in Beijing

● Beijing Capital Airport to Great Walls: about 55km (34 miles)/1.5 hours’ driving to Mutianyu Great Wall; about 80km (50 miles)/1.5 hours’ driving to Badaling Great Wall; about 130km (81 miles)/2 hours’ driving to Chengde Jinshanling Great Wall (Hebei).

● Beijing Capital Airport to Forbidden City: about 30km (19 miles)/1 hour’s driving.

● Beijing Capital Airport to City Center: it takes about 40 minutes ~ 1 hour to Tian'anmen Square, city center, by taxi or driving.

It’s highly recommend to take a private car or local taxi, since the public transfer is very complicated and confusing for newcomers.

Useful Links: Beijing Transportation / Get from Beijing Airport to Great Walls / Get to Mutianyu Great Wall

Top Recommended Beijing Great Wall Tours:

>> 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking

>> 2 Days Mutianyu and Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking / 2 Days Jinshanling and Simatai Great Wall Wild Hiking

>> 6 Days Classic Beijing Tour with In-depth Great Wall Experience

Attention: There is NO hotel inside Beijing Capital International Airport. But the airport has hourly rate lounges in Terminal 1, 2 & 3, where you can pay for rest in single/standard room, watch TV and movie, etc.

For applicants of 24-Hour Direct Transit Visa, you may have a overnight layover inside the Beijing Capital Airport. Hence, sleeping in Beijing Capital Airport is your only choice. You may ask for help from airline counters. If you want to go outside the airport during the layover (not qualified for the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit), you should apply for a China Transit Visa (G Visa) before departure.

For applicants of 144-Hour Visa-free Transit, you can leave Capital Airport and stay in any hotels you like, or firstly rest yourself in a hotel nearby when flight arrives at midnight or early morning, e.g. Hilton, Cordis Beijing Hotel, Crowne Palaza Hotel, etc.

Useful Links: Luxury Hotels in Beijing / Comfort Hotels in Beijing / Economy Hotels in Beijing

Europe: London, Paris, Moscow, Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid, Athens, Barcelona, etc;

North America: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, Brussels, etc；

Asia: Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Manila, New Delhi, Istanbul, Hanoi,etc;

Oceania: Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, etc.

Useful Links: Flights to Beijing >>

Special Visa-free Service at Beijing Capital Airport

*1. Beijing Capital International Airport has set up 144-Hour Visa-free counters in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, where has international or regional flights. After landing, it’s very easy and fast to locate the counter by seeing obvious signs and sticks on the ground.

*2. Beijing Capital International Airport also provides free luggage storage service for qualified 144-Hour Visa-free transit passengers. Presenting the Temporary Entry Permit on passport, travelers can leave big baggage in the specified counters for up to 6 days, without any charges.

Beijing Daxing International Airport is located at the junction of Daxing District of Beijing and Langfang City of Hebei Province, about 50 kilometers south of Tian'anmen Square/Forbidden City, 28 kilometers west of downtown Langfang City, 80 kilometers northeast of Beijing Xiong'an New District, and 90 kilometers from Beijing Capital International Airport, 138 kilometers south of Mutianyu Great Wall.

Beijing Daxing International Airport Location Map

Top Recommended Layover Tours:

>> 2 Days Beijing Layover Highlights Tour

>> 3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour (Visa Free)

>> 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

Transfer from Beijing Daxing International Airport to Beijing Downtown

A fully connected transportation network consisting of highways, high-speed railway and subway will support the operation of Daxing International Airport. After you land at Beijing Daxing Airport, you may get to your hotels in downtown Beijing or Beijing’s top attractions. We suggest you use a comfortable private transfer service from a reliable agency like China Discovery. For independent travelers who want to take full advantage of public transportation, it is also available to take a train, bus and taxi, but sometimes you may need to make several transfers.

Flights to/off Beijing Daxing International Airport

Till 2022, there are over 900 flights on 123 different routes from Beijing Daxing Airport, connecting Beijing to over 120 cities in 5 different countries. There are frequent domestic flights from Beijing to Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Harbin, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Changsha, Kunming, Wuhan, Sanya, Xining, Shanghai, etc.

Recommended Beijing Tours with Other Top Cities in China:

☛ 6 Days Classic Beijing Xian High-speed Train Tour

☛ 8 Days Best of China Tour (Beijing - Xian - Shanghai)

☛ 10 Days Classic China Tour from Beijing (Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Yangshuo - Shanghai)

Unlike China Visa Application in your home country with much preparation to do, now getting a visa-free transit, Temporary Entry Permit for leaving airport is quite simple and fast. The precondition is that you must check if you qualify for the relavant requirements. If yes, read the instruction below to know what to do to get transit visa exempted and entry permitted for visiting Beijing.

Our Customers Visiting Beijing (July, 2019)

Step 1. When boarding, you should inform the air company which carries you to Beijing, that you will apply for 24-Hour or 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy for Beijing. They will convey your request to the immigration authority at the airport.

Step 2. After landing, you should follow guide of airline staff, visa-free transit signs and indicators to locate the 24/144 hour international transfer (leaving airport) channel.

Step 3. You need to fill in an blue Arrival Card, giving travel itinerary and flight details as required, and complete an Temporary Entry Application Form at the visa-free desk.

Step 4. Then, you will queue up for submission. The immigration authority will check your document and decide to grant you Temporary Entry Permit. (The expected waiting time varies form different airport, it would between a few minutes to 1 hour or above.)

If you alreay applied a Chinese Visa and will not use it this time, please tell the officier your need when being checked.

Step 5. You may go through immigration procedures, and leave the airport and visit Beijing for no more than 6 days after getting transit visa exemption.

Tips: 1.）Virtually, the visa-free transit counts from 00:00 on the day after arrival, which means you are able to stay over 144 hours in Beijing. 2.) Foreigners are required to make accommodation registration within 24 hour after check-in. If you stay in a hotel, the hotel staff will register for you, otherwise you shall register at a local Public Security Bureau by yourself.

Useful Links: Popular Beijing Tours / Get to & around Beijing / Beijing Maps

1. Do I need a transit visa for Beijing Airport?

Check the requirements for China 24-Hour & 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policies first. If you meet all conditions, you don't need to apply for a Transit Visa (G Visa) for layover in Beijing, China. Once issued a Temporary Entry Permit, you're allowed to leave airport and enter Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. China Visa-free Transit Requirements & Application Guide >>

2. Can I apply for Visa on Arrival at Beijing Airport?

Currently, Visa on Arrival, or Port Visa, is only valid for group tourist and few certain emergency visit to China. Regular visit should get a visa for Beijing, China in advance. How to Get A Visa for China >>

3. Are there any attractions near Beijing Airport?

There is no scenic spots around Beijing Airport. Famous cultural and historic sites are mainly located in city center area. The Great Walls are situated in north suburb of Beijing, at least 1 hour's driving distance from Capital Airport and 2 hour's driving distance from Daxing Airport. Top Attractions in Beijing >>

China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours for you. To fulfill your dream tour to China, we not only design ideal itinerary covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, but also will provide you Invitation Letter and useful guide about 72-Hour Visa-free Transit, 144-Hour Visa-free Transit and other types of Chinese Visas to help you obtain Chinese Visa, even customize a China Visa-free Tour in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.

Popular China Visa-free Tours:

• ● 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package
• ● 5 Days Beijing Essence Tour with Real Hutong Life
• ● 3 Days Shanghai Past and Present Contrast Tour
• ● 3 Days Classic Xian Tour
• ● 3 Days Chengdu City Break including Panda Volunteering
• ● 3 Days Chengdu Highlights Tour

If you are interested in China Visa-free tour, you could customize a China Visa-free Tour with China Discovery in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.