Quick answer
Beijing Daxing (PKX), opened September 2019, is the Chinese capital's second major airport — 46 km south of the city center, serving China Eastern and China Southern above all. The fast way in is the Daxing Airport Express subway: 19 minutes to Caoqiao for CNY 35. Taxis run CNY 150–200 and 50–70 minutes depending on traffic. Last verified: 2026-10-11.
Why this matters in 2026
Beijing has two giant airports, and booking the wrong one costs a missed flight: Daxing (PKX) and Capital (PEK) sit 60 km apart on opposite sides of the city. Daxing is the newer one — a 700,000 m² single-terminal starfish designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, four runways, and a design capacity of 72 million passengers a year — and it carries the long-haul networks of SkyTeam: China Eastern and China Southern anchor it, alongside Delta, Air France-KLM, and a growing international roster. If your ticket says PKX, this page is the 20 minutes of preparation that saves an hour.
Key facts at a glance
- Code and position: PKX, 46 km due south of Tiananmen, in Beijing's Daxing District
- Opened: 25 September 2019; four runways; single main terminal of about 700,000 m²
- Design capacity: 72 million passengers per year (over 100 million long-term)
- Airport Express subway: 19 minutes to Caoqiao (草桥), CNY 35, roughly every 8–10 minutes at peak
- Intercity rail: Jingxiong line to Beijing West station in about 28 minutes, CNY 25–45 second class
- Taxi to the center: CNY 150–200, 50–70 minutes against traffic
- Airport shuttle buses: CNY 40 to major city hubs
- Main carriers: China Eastern, China Southern, plus international partners
Getting there — and away
Daxing Airport Express (大兴机场线)
The default answer. Boards at Caoqiao station in southern Beijing, 19 minutes to the terminal, CNY 35, trains every 8–10 minutes at peak. Caoqiao also offers in-town check-in counters and baggage drop for several carriers — check bags at 10:00, ride out at leisure. The express runs from roughly 06:00 to 23:00; late flights need a taxi or shuttle.
Jingxiong intercity rail
High-speed trains call at Daxing Airport station beneath the terminal: about 28 minutes to Beijing West (北京西), CNY 25–45 second class, with onward high-speed connections toward Xiong'an and beyond. Buy on 12306 like any train; passport is the ticket.
Taxi and ride-hail
CNY 150–200 to the city center on a good run, 50–70 minutes; add 30 minutes for morning and evening peaks. Didi pickup follows signed ranks; the meter is the rule. For three or more travelers with luggage, a taxi often beats the express on total cost.
Airport shuttle buses
Coach lines link Daxing to Beijing Station, Beijing South, and major hubs for CNY 40, running from early morning to the last arrivals. Slower than the express but kind to heavy luggage and midnight schedules.
The terminal, tamed
The starfish shape means every wing is walkable: security to the farthest gate is 15–20 minutes at a normal pace, and the central atrium puts all concourses within sight of one another. Signs run in Chinese and English; the free inter-terminal trains that other airports need do not exist here because there is one terminal. Eat before security or in the landside zone — the landside food street prices are city-normal (noodles CNY 30–50), while airside café markups are airport-normal everywhere on earth.
Check-in and security
Counters open about 2 hours before departure and close 45 minutes early for domestic, 60 minutes for international. Self-service kiosks print in seconds; passport desks for international departures allow the standard 20–30 minutes at peak. Security is efficient — 10–15 minutes outside peaks — and the walking distances, while real, are the reason the recommendation is 2 hours for international departures, not 3.
Costs and pricing breakdown
- Airport Express subway: CNY 35, 19 minutes to Caoqiao
- Jingxiong rail to Beijing West: CNY 25–45 second class, about 28 minutes
- Airport shuttle bus: CNY 40
- Taxi to city center: CNY 150–200 plus possible expressway tolls
- Landside noodles: CNY 30–50
- Airside coffee: CNY 30–45
- Checked-baggage packing service (if overweight): from about CNY 30
Pitfalls to avoid
- Booking PKX assuming it is near the city: it is 46 km south — add an hour to any same-day plan that also touches central Beijing.
- Confusing PKX with PEK: two airports, 60 km apart, no fast link between them. The 3-hour self-transfer between the two is a gamble, not a plan.
- Counting on the express after midnight: it stops around 23:00; late arrivals take the 24-hour taxi rank or a night shuttle.
- Ignoring in-town check-in at Caoqiao: dragging suitcases is optional — the counters at Caoqiao take bags hours before the flight.
- Underestimating gate walks: the starfish is walkable but wide; 15–20 minutes to a far gate is normal, so shop after seeing your gate.
Alternatives and trade-offs
- Capital Airport (PEK): closer to the north and east of the city, home to Air China and Star Alliance; choose it when the airline or the hotel district says so.
- Beijing West by rail: for Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, and Zhengzhou, the train from the city center beats flying from either airport door to door.
- Didi expressway routes: at midday, a CNY 150–200 taxi from Chaoyang can match the express's total time — off-peak, price it.
- Caoqiao in-town service: the airport experience moves to the city: check bags, clear paperwork, then ride 19 minutes hands-free.
Local context and customs
Daxing is a statement project — the starfish atrium earns its photographs, and locals visit it as a destination the way earlier generations visited T2's observation decks. Staff at information desks speak basic English and are used to confused transfer questions; the lost-and-found and the airline counters sit landside, so sort problems before security. Security lines move with characteristic speed, and the CNY 35 express is quietly one of the best airport rail links anywhere — 19 minutes beats most cities' helicopter plans.
Verifying current information
Schedules shift with seasons:
- Beijing subway official: express first/last train times
- 12306: Jingxiong rail times and fares
- Your airline: terminal confirmation — PKX and PEK are never interchangeable on the same flight
- Airport official site: shuttle routes and in-town check-in carriers
Putting it all together
If your ticket says PKX: ride the CNY 35 express from Caoqiao (19 minutes, or drop bags there first), arrive 2 hours before an international flight and 90 minutes for domestic, and budget the 15–20 minute gate walk after security. Leaving late at night, take the CNY 150–200 taxi; arriving late, the shuttle. And never book a tight PKX-to-PEK self-connection — 60 km apart is 60 km apart. Last verified: 2026-10-11.
FAQ
How do I get from Daxing to central Beijing?
The Airport Express subway: 19 minutes to Caoqiao, CNY 35. Alternatives: Jingxiong rail to Beijing West (28 minutes, CNY 25–45), shuttle buses (CNY 40), or a taxi (CNY 150–200).
How far is Daxing from the city center?
46 km south of Tiananmen — 19 minutes by express rail, 50–70 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.
Which airlines use Daxing?
China Eastern and China Southern are the anchor carriers, with Delta, Air France-KLM, and a growing international roster. Air China and Star Alliance mostly use Capital (PEK).
Daxing or Capital — how do I know which one I have?
The code on the ticket: PKX is Daxing, PEK is Capital. They are 60 km apart with no fast link between them.
How early should I arrive?
2 hours for international departures, 90 minutes for domestic. Counters close 60 and 45 minutes before departure respectively.
Does the subway run all night?
No — the Airport Express stops around 23:00. Late flights use the 24-hour taxi rank or night shuttle buses.
Can I check bags in the city?
Yes — Caoqiao station on the express line has in-town check-in counters for several carriers, so you can ride to the terminal hands-free.
Is the terminal hard to navigate?
No — it is a single walkable starfish, with every concourse visible from the central atrium. Farthest gates sit 15–20 minutes from security at a normal pace.