Transport from the airport in China
From Beijing Capital the Airport Express is a flat 25 CNY to Dongzhimen or Beixinqiao; from Shanghai Pudong the Maglev is 50 CNY, or 40 CNY on a same-day boarding pass, and takes 8 minutes to Longyang Road. Metro Line 2 does the whole run into central Shanghai for 7 to 9 CNY. After the last train, DiDi inside Alipay is the fallback.
- Airport Express: flat 25 CNY, about every 10 minutes, T3 06:22-22:52 and T2 06:36-23:10. It runs T3 - T2 - Sanyuanqiao - Dongzhimen - Beixinqiao.
- Beijing taxi meter: 13 CNY for the first 3 km, then 2.30 CNY/km, plus the expressway toll - roughly 100-150 CNY to the centre.
- Between 23:00 and 05:00 a 20 % night surcharge applies, which puts the same ride at 150-250 CNY.
- Maglev to Longyang Road: 50 CNY, or 40 CNY with a same-day boarding pass; 80 CNY return valid 7 days. Eight minutes, then change to the metro.
- Metro Line 2 runs straight through to People's Square for 7 to 9 CNY, 60-75 minutes, roughly 06:00-22:30.
- Order DiDi inside Alipay; pick-up zones at both airports are strictly assigned, so follow the app, not a tout.
- After the last train, DiDi or an official taxi from a marked rank is the only sensible option.
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
About 30 km out from the centre.
- Airport Express - the reliable option. Stations at Terminal 3 and Terminal 2, running Sanyuanqiao (line 10) - Dongzhimen (lines 2 and 13) - Beixinqiao (line 5). A flat 25 CNY, trains about every 10 minutes. First and last from T3 are 06:22 and 22:52; from T2, 06:36 and 23:10. Dongzhimen to T3 is about 25 minutes.
- Official taxi - the meter starts at 13 CNY covering the first 3 km, then 2.30 CNY per kilometre, plus the airport expressway toll. Expect 100 to 150 CNY to the centre and 40-70 minutes depending on traffic. From 23:00 to 05:00 a 20 % surcharge applies, taking the same ride to 150-250 CNY. Queue at the marked rank; ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal.
- DiDi - order it inside Alipay. Pick-up zones are assigned and signposted, and the price is fixed by the app before you board.
- Airport bus - 20 to 30 CNY on the city routes, more on the long-distance ones, roughly 07:00 to 23:00, and 60-90 minutes into town. Worth it only on a tight budget.
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)
- Maglev - the airport to Longyang Road, where you change to metro lines 2, 7 and 16. A single is 50 CNY, dropping to 40 CNY if you show a same-day boarding pass; a return valid 7 days is 80 CNY. The 30 km takes 8 minutes. Last departure from the airport is around 21:40. Longyang Road is not the centre, so budget for the metro leg on top.
- Metro Line 2 - the cheapest and simplest: it runs through from the airport to People's Square with no change, 7 to 9 CNY depending on distance, 60-75 minutes, roughly 06:00 to 22:30.
- Official taxi - ranks at both terminals. Around 150-250 CNY to the centre depending on district and traffic, 45-90 minutes, with a night surcharge after 23:00.
- Airport bus - district routes at 20 to 30 CNY, 60-90 minutes.
Recommendation by traveler type
Metro and bus fares are paid with an Alipay QR code charged to your foreign card; DiDi inside Alipay or WeChat covers taxis. Solo travellers should take the airport rail links, families an official taxi or a booked transfer.
- Metro and bus fares are paid with an Alipay QR code - generate it for the city you are in and scan at the gate.
- Single transactions under 200 CNY carry no card fee, which covers every metro ride.
- DiDi Chuxing inside Alipay or WeChat translates your messages to the driver and charges the card after the ride.
- Skip the ticket machines: many reject foreign notes and none take international cards.
- Solo and light: the airport rail links. Family with luggage: an official taxi or a booked transfer.
Match the transport to your group and the clock.
- Solo traveller with light luggage - the Airport Express in Beijing at a flat 25 CNY, or in Shanghai the Maglev at 50 CNY (40 CNY on a same-day boarding pass) plus a metro transfer from Longyang Road. Both sidestep the traffic entirely.
- Family with children and luggage - an official airport taxi or a pre-booked private transfer. It costs several times the train but removes the interchanges.
- Night arrival after the last train - Beijing's Airport Express stops around 23:00 and Shanghai's Line 2 around 22:30, so it is DiDi or an official taxi from the marked rank.
- Tight budget - Shanghai's Metro Line 2 at 7 to 9 CNY all the way into the centre, or Beijing's airport bus at 20 to 30 CNY.
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