Beijing Airport Express Train

Besides taxis and shuttle buses, airport express is another alternative which link you to downtown Beijing in the shortest interval of time. In order to provide a better transportation method for the huge amount of tourists during Beijing Olympic 2008, the train was officially put into service on July 19, 2008 prior to the opening ceremony of the grand event.

Beijing Airport Express Train is the fastest transportation method to transfer you to and forth from Beijing Capital International Airport. The train has four stations only throughout the whole line, which consisting of Terminal 2 station, Terminal 3 station, Sanyuanqiao Station and Dongzhimen Station. Anyway, don’t worry if you are traveling from Terminal 1 of Beijing Capital International Airport. There is a long corridor that connecting between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 that offers you an easy reach to the airport express train station at Terminal 2. Besides that, you may also take the airport inter-terminal shuttle bus to get to Terminal 2 or Terminal 3 from Terminal 1 in order to catch the train.

Beijing is a modern metropolis with population of over 19.72 million and more than 4 million vehicles on the road. Therefore, ground traffic congestion is a serious problem that facing by the people living within this city. When you are first arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport, there are quite a number of transportation methods that you may take to reach your destination in Beijing. For example, Beijing taxi is the most convenient way as taxi will send you right to the front entrance of your destination in Beijing; while Beijing airport shuttle bus which connecting the airport to major business or residential area throughout the city is more suitable for budget travelers.

However, both Beijing taxi and Beijing Airport shuttle bus are ground traffic which might be caught in traffic jam within your journey. Of course, it might not be a problem for you if you are not in rush hour. However, if you wish to reach your destination in a limited period of time, then you should shift to Beijing airport express train rather than choosing ground traffic. The Beijing Airport Express Train can guarantee your arrival at Beijing downtown within half an hour as the highest speed of the train can reach 110 kilometers per hour.

Airport Express train is operating from 6.35 am until 23.10 pm, every 10 minutes during peak period and every 15 minutes during non-peak period. The single trip ticket is rated at 25 RMB per person. The Airport Express has only two stops at Beijing downtown which are the Dongzhimen Station where you can transfer Beijing Subway Line 2 and Sanyuanqiao Station where you can transfer Beijing Subway Line 10. Although Beijing Airport Express Train is also under the management of Beijing Subway Company, 25 RMB per trip is only the ticket rate from Beijing Capital International Airport to Dongzhimen Station and vice versa. If you need to transfer Beijing Subway Line 2 or Line 10, you need to purchase Beijing subway ticket again at 2 RMB per trip per person.

Airport Express Station

             Terminal 2: B2 of Parking Garage No. 2

             Terminal 3: F2 of Parking Garage No. 3
 

FAQ of Beijing Airport Express Train

1. Where can I buy Beijing Airport Express Train Ticket?

Ticketing counters and self-service ticketing booths are available at each of the four stations throughout Beijing Airport Express Line. You may either purchase the single trip ticket by cash at 25 RMB per person manually from the ticketing counter or through the self-service booths adjacent to the ticketing counters. You need not worry about your Chinese language proficiency when you are dealing with the machine as all the self-service booths are set with dual language system. As long as you are English literate, then nothing much you need to worry when traveling in Beijing.

2. How to take Beijing Airport Express Train?

After purchasing the train ticket, you need to go through security check before entering the gate. Security check is necessary to guarantee the safety of all passengers throughout the traveling route. Later, you need to swap the ticket in order to enter the waiting lounge of Beijing Airport Express Train. Do remember not to fold the ticket or otherwise you might face problem when exit from station. Besides that, all the ticket will be collected for recycle when exit from the station. If you are a card collector, then you might need to purchase two, one for travel and another one for collection. Do keep the ticket with good care as you might need to pay a penalty at 250 RMB per ticket for any losses to the ticket.

Throughout your journey to and forth Beijing Capital International Airport, do listen carefully to the announcement made in bi-lingual. The name of the station will be announced in Chinese and English before arrival at the station. Besides that, the name of next station will be shown on the digital screen within the train as well. If you are still not sure with the name of the station, you can simply double check with the crews in the train. They will be pleased to serve you and assist you full of passion. Although the seat in the train is very comfortable and might cause you to fell asleep, do remember to get up right on the time to get off the train when it arrives at the station. If you miss the station, the train might go for another loop before you reach the station once again. This might not be a problem if you are not in rush, but if you need to catch a flight, then it would be a Black Friday for you.

3. Is there any alternative other than purchasing Beijing Airport Express Train Ticket on the spot?

Especially for backpackers, there is another alternative for you. Rather than purchasing transportation ticket every time when you travel by public transportation, you may shift to getting a Beijing transportation smart card. Besides being able to pay the ticket for Beijing Airport Express Train, the smart card can also pay for the bus fare when you travel by both public buses and Beijing subway. Moreover, since Beijing government is encouraging people to travel via smart card, 60% discount will be applied for the public transportation fare if you pay by smart card. In this case, your budget for transportation fee can be lowered by half. Beijing Transportation Smart Card requires a prepaid mode. In which you need to top-up the card and when you travel by it, the transportation fee will be charged directly from the balance in your card.

4. How to take Beijing Airport Express Train from Beijing Capital International Airport to Beijing Downtown?

After you reach the arrival hall of Beijing Capital International Airport, you may find the sign boards that guiding you to the direction of Airport Express Train Station. Just follow the sign and you will reach the nearest train station no matter which terminal you are actually arriving at.

         Location of Beijing Airport Express Train Station

         Terminal 2 – B2 level of No 2 Vehicle Parking Building

         Terminal 3 – Level 2 of No 3 Vehicle Parking Building

When you reach at the train station, you need to get a ticket first either from the manual ticket counter or the self-service ticketing booth. Then enter into the waiting lounge and wait for the train. When you arrive at your destination, you need to insert the ticket into returning slot in order to exit the train station. You need to exit from the station of Beijing Airport Express Train and get Beijing Subway Ticket at 2 RMB per person per trip before you are allowed to transfer Beijing Subway Line 2, Line 10 or Line 13.

5. How to take Beijing Airport Express Train from Beijing Downtown to Beijing Capital International Airport?

Enter the station from the exit which is specialized for passengers of Beijing Airport Express Train. Do remember that although Beijing Airport Express is under the management of Beijing Subway Company as well, the transportation fee for them is charged separately. Before you getting into the waiting lounge, you need to go through security check first for your own safety. After that, get on the train and depart at the correct Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal Building. 

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