10 Things You MUST Know about Beijing Layovers

In this article, we list 10 things you need to know about layovers at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) that will ease many of your concerns and help you make the most of your Beijing stopover.

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• 1. Do I Need a Visa For a Layover?
• 2. Can I Leave Beijing Airports?
• 3. 6 Steps to Leave the Airport
• 4. 8-Hour Layover
• 5. 10-Hour Layover
• 6. 12-Hour Layover
• 7. 20-Hour Layover
• 8. 7 Hours or Less Layover
• 9. Do I Need Internet or Apps?
• 10. Can I Sleep Overnight in Beijing Airports?

1. Do I Need a Visa For a Layover in Beijing Airports?

Now, for most travelers from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, a visa is not required. See how to visit China without a visa.

All you need is a valid passport, an airplane ticket that displays confirmed seats for your connecting flight, and a completed arrival/departure card, which can be filled out either at the airport or on the airplane.

Visa free

For some countries that don't have visa-free access, like Algeria and India, you don't need a visa if you stay within the airport. However, if you leave the airport, a visa is required.

2. Can I Leave Beijing Airports During My Layover?

Yes, if you have a visa or qualify for the visa-free transit policy, and your layover is at least 8 hours.

3. 6 Steps to Leave the Airport During Your Beijing Layover

• Step 1. Health quarantine.
• Step 2. Fill out the foreigner's arrival card.
• Step 3. Immigration inspection. Prepare your passport, visa (if required), and arrival card. There are regular foreigner counters and special visa-free transit counters.
• Step 4. Baggage claim. At Capital Airport, most international flights arrive at T3, and you could take the APM from Zone E to Zone C to reach the baggage claim area. At Daxing Airport, there is only one terminal, and you need to collect your luggage at carousels 1-4 and 7-10 on the first floor.
• Step 5. Customs inspection and declare goods. Use the red channel if you have items to declare; otherwise, use the green channel.
• Step 6. Exit the airport.

This process typically takes 1-2 hours, depending on the crowd.

China customs at the Capital Airport

4.What to Do with an 8-Hour Layover in Beijing？

Is 8 hours enough to visit the Great Wall or the Forbidden City? No.

With an 8-hour layover, the first and last two hours are typically needed for arrival procedures and departure formalities. This means you realistically have about 4 hours outside the airport.

Even the nearest section of the Great Wall requires around 3 hours of round-trip driving, leaving very little time to actually visit.

Capital Airport is about 1 hour from the Forbidden City. In theory, it might be possible with a very tight schedule. However, if traffic is heavy or your visit takes longer than expected, you could risk missing your flight.

For a safer option, we recommend visiting places closer to the airport. From Capital Airport, you could go to Wangfujing (about 1 hour by car) or the 798 Art District (about 30 minutes by car).

Daxing Airport is farther from central Beijing, so sightseeing options are more limited. A good choice is the Temple of Heaven, about 1 hour by car.

5. What to Do with a 10-Hour Layover in Beijing？

With a 10-hour layover, you could head to the Great Wall or the Forbidden City.

For the Great Wall, Mutianyu is the most suitable section. It is closer to the airport and usually less crowded. The drive takes about 1.5 hours from Capital Airport and about 2 hours from Daxing Airport.

Facilities are well developed, with cable cars available for both ascent and descent, which helps save time and energy.

Our guests visited the Mutianyu Great Wall

There is no direct public transportation from either airport to Mutianyu. To maximize your limited time, we recommend taking a taxi, ride-hailing car, or arranging a private transfer.

Below is a suggested timeline for visiting the Mutianyu from Capital Airport during a 10-hour layover.

• 2 hours: PEK customs and immigration process
• 1.5 hours: Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall
• 3 hours: Explore the Wall, take the cable car up and down, and have a quick lunch
• 1.5 hours: Drive back to PEK
• 2 hours: Check-in and departure procedures

If you prefer a more relaxed experience with clear time control, a private layover tour can help ensure you return to the airport on schedule. You could consider our 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour for a smooth and efficient visit.

6. What to Do with a 12-Hour Layover in Beijing？

During a 12-hour layover, you could visit both the Great Wall and the Forbidden City .

The Forbidden City

Below is a suggested timeline for visiting Mutianyu and the Forbidden City from Capital Airport during a 12-hour layover:

• 2 hours: PEK customs and immigration process
• 1.5 hours: Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall
• 1.5 hours: Explore the Wall, take the cable car up and down
• 1.5 hours: Return to the city
• 1 hour: Quick lunch to taste local food
• 1.5 hours: Visit the Forbidden City
• 1 hour: Drive back to PEK
• 2 hours: Check-in and pass through immigration

7. What to Do with a 20-Hour Layover in Beijing？

If your layover includes a full daytime period and one night, for example, arriving in the morning and departing early the next day, this is the most ideal scenario. You could cover Beijing's key highlights. We recommend visiting the Forbidden City and Mutianyu.

See our One Day Beijing Highlights Private Tour for a well-paced plan.

In the evening, you could choose a hutong walk, enjoy a special Beijing-style dinner, explore Wangfujing to experience the city's night atmosphere, or simply return to a hotel near the airport to rest.

Peking duck

If your layover includes one afternoon and one night, for example, arriving around noon and departing early the next morning, whether you could visit the Great Wall or the Forbidden City mainly depends on the last entry time and the remaining visiting hours.

If you arrive too late to enter these sites, consider visiting the Summer Palace or the Temple of Heaven, which close later. After dinner, stay at a hotel near the airport and return comfortably the next morning.

Summer Palace

If most of your layover falls during nighttime, for example, arriving at 8 p.m. and departing at 4 p.m. the next day, your actual daytime sightseeing time may only be 6–7 hours.

In this situation, we recommend resting at a hotel near the airport first, then visiting the Great Wall or the Forbidden City the next morning before heading back to the airport in the afternoon.

8. What to Do in the Beijing Airport for 7 Hours or Less During a Layover?

When your layover is 7 hours or less, we suggest staying inside the airport. There are plenty of activities to enjoy.

Eating: Both airports have Quanjude Peking Duck and popular Chinese milk tea. If you prefer not to try Chinese food, there are options like Starbucks and McDonald's.

Shopping: Both airports have Beijing souvenir shops, brand stores, and luxury boutiques. Daxing Airport offers a better shopping experience with city-equivalent pricing and a Popoland shop featuring exclusive products.

Relaxation: Both airports have VIP lounges where you could grab a bite and take a shower.

Showering: Capital Airport does not have free showers. You could only use VIP lounges or hotel facilities. Daxing Airport offers free showers near baggage carousels 2 and 9 on the first floor. These are inside customs, so be careful not to exit if you want to shower.

Spa: Both airports feature Comfort Zone, where you could enjoy massages, foot therapy, and ear cleaning.

If you're at Daxing Airport, you could also visit the Chinese garden near gate E83 to enjoy a stroll and admire classical Chinese landscaping.

9. Do I Need Internet or Apps for a Beijing Layover?

Yes. Whether you stay inside the airport or plan to explore the city, having internet access and basic apps will make things easier.

How can I get internet access?

You could purchase an eSIM card in advance on platforms like Trip.com or Airalo, or buy a temporary SIM card or portable Wi-Fi device at the airport.

Read more on How to Use Your Cell Phone While Traveling in China.

What apps should I prepare before visiting Beijing?

We recommend downloading: Alipay (primary choice) and WeChat (backup option). These two apps can also be used to hail rides and pay for public transportation.

There are currency exchange counters and ATMs at the airport. You could also take a small amount of cash of 100-200 RMB (14-29 USD), as a backup.

Can I use Visa or MasterCard?

Even inside airports, not all areas accept international credit card (Visa or MasterCard) payments. Mobile payment is the most convenient and is very common in China.

Read more on How to Pay in China: Mobile Payment, Cards, Cash.

10. Can I Sleep Overnight in Beijing Airports? Yes

Both airports have free lounge chairs and sofas in public areas.

For a more comfortable experience, you could choose paid lounges, sleep pods, spas, or airport hotels, though these facilities are relatively basic and can be expensive.

Airport Hotels:

• Capital Airport: There is an All Seasons Hotel on the basement level of T2 and T3.
• Daxing Airport: There are two YUQI Hotels on the first floor and a Kapok Hotel on the second floor.

You could also contact your airline to check if they offer complimentary transit accommodation or lounge access.