Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Of the five major international airports in China, Beijing Capital International Airport offers the largest number of domestic and international flights. Currently, there are at least 5,000 flights with over 88 domestic destinations and 69 international destinations. There at least 50 foreign airlines that have established offices at the airport and link the capital city to every corner of the world. Major direct international destinations include Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris, London and New York. Major direct domestic destinations include Shanghai (2 hours), Guangzhou (3 hours) and Shenzhen (3 hours), among many, many othere.

The new No 3 terminal building at Beijing Capital International Airport, which serves as the main support building during the 2008 Olympic Games, opened in March 2008. The huge terminal building, designed by leading British architect Norman Foster, has 99 hectares (245 acres) of floor space, 120 departure gates and a 20-mile network of conveyor belts that can handle 20,000 bags per hour, moving them at a speed of 10 meters per second.

Beijing Capital International Airport is approximately 25 km northeast of the city center. The airport is easily reached by shuttle (RMB 16) and taxi (RMB 70 to RMB 120). The shuttle, operated by the Civil Aviation Authority, is the most economical way to travel to and from the airport, running every 30 minutes from the airport to various locations in downtown Beijing, and even more frequently from city loctions to the airport. Alternatively, taxis to the city (not including suburbs) are available for approximately RMB 70 (to Sanlitun) and RMB120 (to Tian'anmen). Though taxis in Beijing charge according to a meter, travelers need to pay not only the meter price but also the price of any tolls.

The Ticket Booking Office of CAAC is located at No. 15, Changan Xi Jie. There are special ticket windows for foreign passengers (you must present valid documents when buying tickets)

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) (Beijing Shoudu Guoji Jichang)
Inquiry Tel: 010-64541100
Ticket Hotline: 010-87473308, 87473322
Complaint Hotline: 010-64571666
Website: http://en.bcia.com.cn/ (English)

As the railway hub of the nation, Beijing offers trains to most provincial capitals and neighboring cities. There are four train stations in Beijing, of which Beijing Railway Station and Beijing West Railway Station are the most frequently used. Trains from Beijing Railway Station (Beijing Zhan)  travel to Baotou, northeast China, and Shanghai, with international trains to Moscow and Ulan Bator. Beijing Railway Station offers express trains to Harbin (8 hours), Tianjin (1.5 hours), Shanghai (10 hours), Shenyang (4 hours), Beidaihe (2 hours), Qinhuangdao (2 hours) and Changchun (6 hours). Beijing West Railway Station (Beijing Xi Zhan) has the reputation of the largest railway station in Asia (although the newly-renovated Beijing South Station may rival it when it re-opens in August 2008; trains from Beijing West station travel to every province, most major and medium-sized cities and autonomous regions (excluding Hainan and Taiwan). In 2007, Beijing West Railway Station began to operate trains to Tibet (48 hours). Since 2006, Beijing South Station has been closed for renovation and will resume operations in August 2008. The South Station will surpass Beijing Railway Station and Beijing West Railway Station in function and utility. Beijing North Station offers trains that travel to neighboring provinces such as Hebei province and Inner Mongolia.

In April 2007, Beijing West Station and Beijing Station began to offer HST (High Speed Trains) that travel at record speeds. Destinations include Tianjin (from Beijing Zhan) and Shijiazhuang (from Beijing Xi Zhan).

Train tickets can be bought at ticket offices in Beijing Station, Beijing West Station and Beijing North Station. Tourists can buy tickets and reserve seats up to one week in advance (or about 11 days in advance during national holidays) and tickets are refundable (minus a twenty percent cancellation fee). Passports or other regulated documents are required when buying or booking tickets.

There are more than 20 long-distance bus stations in Beijing that operate thousands of buses daily to nearby and distant cities. Out of these 20 stations, there are five that are the most useful. The former Xizhimen bus station has moved to Liuliqiao, and provides buses that travel to Inner Mongolia, Hebei province and other northwest cities. Dongzhimen bus station provides buses to neighboring Hebei province. Zhaosongkou Long Distance Bus Station has buses that travel to Shanghai and Shandong province. Muxiyuan Long Distance Bus Station has buses to Nanjing, Jinan, Hangzhou, and Wenzhou. Lianhuachi Long Distance Bus Station offers buses that travel to southeast China.

Tickets can be purchased three to five days in advance, the same day, or upon boarding the bus (during the non-peak season).

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