Daxing Airport is about 46 km south of central Beijing, making it noticeably further than Capital Airport (PEK). Transport costs reflect this distance. Here is what to budget.
By transport type
Daxing Airport Express (metro): CNY 35 per person to Caoqiao station. Add CNY 3-7 for onward metro travel to your final destination. Total per person is typically CNY 38-42. Operates roughly 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
Airport bus: CNY 25-40 depending on the route. Slow, with multiple stops, but the cheapest option if the metro is not running.
Taxi: CNY 150-250 to central districts, plus CNY 15-20 in expressway tolls. After 11 PM, fares increase by about 20 percent. Rush hour traffic (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM) pushes costs toward the higher end.
Pre-booked transfer: CNY 350-600 for a sedan to central Beijing. Minivans and premium vehicles cost more. Price is fixed regardless of traffic or route.
By destination
| Destination | Taxi (approx.) | Transfer (approx.) | |-------------|----------------|--------------------| | Fengtai (south Beijing) | CNY 100-150 | CNY 250-380 | | Xicheng (financial district) | CNY 160-220 | CNY 380-520 | | Dongcheng (Forbidden City) | CNY 170-240 | CNY 400-550 | | Chaoyang (CBD, Sanlitun) | CNY 180-250 | CNY 420-580 | | Haidian (universities) | CNY 200-280 | CNY 450-600 | | Tongzhou (east Beijing) | CNY 220-300 | CNY 480-650 |
Comparing with Capital Airport (PEK)
The same journey from Capital Airport costs roughly 30-40 percent less by taxi because the distance is shorter. If you have a choice of airports, PEK is cheaper to get to and from. However, airline and flight timing usually determine which airport you use.
Hidden costs
- Expressway tolls: CNY 15-20, always added to taxi fares. Some transfer services include tolls in their quoted price; confirm when booking.
- Late-night surcharge: About 20 percent on top of the metered rate after 11 PM.
- Traffic variability: A taxi trip at midnight might be CNY 160. The exact same trip at 8 AM could be CNY 240 because the meter runs on time as well as distance.
- Two-taxi problem: If you are a family with heavy luggage and cannot fit in one taxi, you are paying double.
Cost-saving tips
- The Daxing Airport Express at CNY 35 is the cheapest option, but factor in onward metro costs and the inconvenience of transfers with luggage.
- For groups of 3-4 people, a single taxi or transfer is more economical per person than individual metro tickets.
- If your hotel is in southern Beijing (Fengtai or Daxing district), you benefit from the airport's southern location. The trip is shorter and cheaper.
- Confirm whether your hotel offers an airport shuttle. Some hotels near Daxing provide this service, which can save the entire transport cost.