Airport to City Transport Guide

🚇 Metro — The most reliable option. Fixed price, no traffic risk, runs 6:00–23:00 typically. Airport express lines are faster than regular metro. Look for signs saying "地铁" in white on red. Best for: solo travellers, light luggage, peak hours.

🚕 Taxi — Door-to-door convenience but costs more. Use the official queue (排队出租车) — never follow touts inside the terminal. Show the driver your destination in Chinese on your phone. Best for: groups, heavy luggage, late nights.

🚌 Shuttle bus — Cheapest but slowest. Fixed routes and stops. Airport shuttles run to major hotels and transport hubs. Look for "机场大巴" signs. Best for: budget travellers, when the metro doesn't reach your destination.

Metro operating hours — Most metro lines stop between 22:30 and 23:30. Airport express lines sometimes run later — check the last train time at the station. After metro hours, your options are taxi, Didi, or the night shuttle (some airports run a late bus service).

Late-night taxi & Didi — All airports have a 24-hour taxi queue. At major airports (PEK, PVG, CAN, SZX), the queue moves fast even at 2am. Didi also works 24/7. Expect a late-night surcharge of ¥5–15 on taxi fares. Ride-hailing pick-up zones stay open.

Luggage storage — Most major airports have left-luggage counters (行李寄存 · xíng li jì cún). Rates are typically ¥10–30 per item per day. Look for signs with a suitcase icon. Useful if you have a long layover and want to explore the city without dragging bags.

Between airports — If you're transferring between two airports in the same city (e.g. PEK → PKX in Beijing, PVG → SHA in Shanghai), budget at least 2 hours for a taxi or Didi, or use the airport shuttle bus which is cheaper but slower. Beijing Capital (PEK) to Daxing (PKX) is ~70 km — about 90 min by car.

Train–airport connections — Several airports share the same complex as an HSR station: Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU), Shijiazhuang Zhengding (SJW), and Guiyang Longdongbao (KWE). You can walk from your flight to your next train without leaving the building. See our Transit Matrix for route planning.