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Useful tips for Beijing bus groups with ‘what to see’ and ‘what to do’ items and ‘bus- friendly’ or must see tourist sites in Beijing. Check our list of attractions before planning your bus tour with a stop or departure in Beijing. Let us know if your favourite attraction or ‘bus-stop’ is not there and you think we should add it to our list of Beijing highlights.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the second busiest airport in the world and over 70 million passengers travel through here every year. It"s located 32kms from the city centre and arriving in an airport so big can be a daunting experience. Terminal 1 is older and for domestic flights, while terminals 2 and 3 are huge space-aged constructions. Arriving in China is also a bit of culture shock, so to smooth your progress we"ve detailed everything you need to know about Beijing Airport.
Taxi drivers in Beijing do not speak English and you don"t want to start your trip with a frustrating case of communication problems. Pre booking a taxi ensures you have a driver who understands your destination and meets you at the arrivals gate. This is another bonus as just figuring out where you are in this giant airport can be confusing. Drivers will either speak good English or have a direct radio link with an interpretor.
It will take around 30 minutes to 1 hour to reach central Beijing. This depends on the time of day as the traffic can be very hectic between 7-9am and 5-9pm. When booking an airport transfer you will pay different prices for different vehicles. New and comfortable local vehicles will cost around €40-50, while a Mercedes S class or Audi will cost more.
It"s a smooth entry into the country and well worth the money. Our website lists different companies who specialise in airport transfers for foreign visitors, like Tour Travel China on 15 Guangqumenwari Street, Xingang Beijing Transfer on Zuanwumen Outer Street, and Beijing Airport Transfer on Wen Jin Jie Shi San Hao. After seeing these street names you"ll appreciate how easy it is to have a language barrier.
A number companies will also offer airport transfers by minibus or coach. This is perfect if you have a group arriving in Beijing. You can either hire a coach or minibus for the entire duration of your stay, or just book an airport transfer. Your group will be met at the arrivals gate by an English speaking driver, and for an extra cost you can request a guide who speaks German, Italian, French, or Spanish. The most common vehicle is a minivan which sits 8 passengers and costs around €65 for an airport transfer. But some companies also have large coaches, up to 50 seaters, and these start at around €130 for an airport transfer.
At each of the 3 terminals you will find a taxi rank with waiting taxis. Sometimes you will have to wait for about 10 minutes. A taxi to central Beijing will cost around €12 - 15 and will be priced on a metre. You will also have to pay the airport highway toll fare. Costs will also be a little higher during peak hours as there is a charge for waiting in traffic.
The major problem you encounter is finding a driver that understands where you"re going. You must have your destination written down in Chinese symbols otherwise you will struggle. Ask your hotel to do this for you before you arrive otherwise you"ll be shouting what you think is Chinese but is actually nonsense.
At Beijing airport there are many taxi touts who will speak English and try and charm you into their taxis. These need to be avoided as the taxis they take you to are illegal and will charge up to five times the normal rate for a journey. The local police know about this problem and are working on it, but the touts are clever and specifically target foreigners.
Beijing Airport has an Airport Express train that links it to two major stations that are on the Beijing underground. If you"re up for an adventure, and don"t mind the rather frantic queue to get tickets then this can take you into Beijing for around €3-4 per person. There is also a bus shuttle service and you will find a map in English detailed the six different lines that the buses take.
Want to know more about travel in China? Read more about things to do and see in Beijing, various travel services in China or ideas for trips and transport in Beijing. A relaxing holiday or successful business trip starts at the airport. Start your trip the best way you can by booking the airport transfer of your choice. Just fill out the form to start receiving airport transport quotes for free and discover the benefits of using RentAutobus first hand!
Would you like to organize a bus tour to see all these beautiful highlights? Request quotes and compare the different bus and coach hire companies: