Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Year, hand in their resignation. This means that immediately after this period can be one of
the best times to visit for job seekers.
Beijing currently has one commercial airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, which
has three terminals—Terminals 1 and 2, and the newer Terminal 3. If you're coming in via
an international flight it's most likely you'll land at Terminal 3.
When you arrive you'll first pass through heat detectors, which will possibly detect any
rise in body temperature due to illness. After this you'll file through immigration. Signage is
bilingual throughout the airport, as are the information desk staff. Compared to many other
countries, in Beijing the customs process seems to be almost nonexistent. Once you collect
your baggage you simply walk out the door, with the declaration of any goods almost com-
pletely voluntary. On the rare occasion, people may be randomly selected for inspection.
The airport is serviced by shuttle buses, taxis, and the subway (the Airport Express). Buses
are the cheapest option, costing just RMB16 per person. They run from around 6am to
11pm or midnight, with some 24-hour options. Times vary for the different routes, so it's
worth checking ahead. For a map and detailed information on airport shuttle buses, see
The Airport Express begins its morning run from the airport at about 6:30am and runs
every 12 minutes until the last train leaves Terminal 3 at 10:50pm. It's RMB25 per person,
regardless of which stop you get off at. Unfortunately, a lot of flights still land after the Air-
port Express stops, and the queue for taxis can begin to wind a little long after 11pm, so
taking a bus or trying to choose an earlier flight might help. Before you get on the Airport
Express, you'll need to put your luggage through a security scanner, so items such as pock-
etknives or kitchen knives that you checked for flying might be confiscated for the subway.
The Airport Express takes about 20 minutes from the airport to the final stop, Dong-
zhimen. This is a major subway interchange station as well as a large terminal for local
and long-distance buses. To continue on to other subway lines, you'll need to buy another
ticket (RMB2). If you are planning to use public transport on your visit, however, this will
