Originally Posted by
Villavic
I'll be arriving on may 9, will it be hot?
Besides, if I take the train and get off at Dongzhimen, is it easy to get a taxi? To 57 Wangfujing Avenue (the Grand Hotel).
Or.. if at Dongzhimen station I connect to Chaoyangmen.. same question.. easy to get a taxi (and I suppose cheaper but is it worth it or better to take at Dongzhimen).
What I'm sure is that I don't want to walk otuside, blocks of streets with my baggage.
Villavic
No not hot in early May. Should be pretty comfortable time. Your choice of transport might depend on what time your plane arrives on May 9, and if you have lots of luggage or are a light packer. Options:
1) Take taxi from airport. With expressway fee of RMB 10, should be in neighborhood of RMB 100 total give or take. Getting a taxi not a problem, rush hours esp morning inbound likely to be quite slow in traffic. Allow a full hour to get to hotel. In evening hours (after 8 pm) this will be faster maybe 45 minutes. In morning rush, possibly slower.
2) Take airport express train to Dongzhimen, RMB 35. Highly reliable trip of 15 minutes duration regardless of road traffic conditions. Then switch to taxi, approx RMB 25-ish to Grand Hotel. Taxi availability around the Dongzhimen terminus varies depending on time of day, weather, etc. Sometimes can be a pain to find a taxi (and really tough between 4-7 pm), trip to Grand varies widely 20-40 minutes dep on time of day/traffic. Not a bad option but not for the heavily laden-of-luggage. Total cost about RMB 60-ish. Assuming you get a taxi fairly quickly from Dongzhimen, probably overall quicker travel time than options 1 or 3. This option has the advantage of a backup plan using subway or public bus, in the event taxis are tough to get. But the backup plan is only for those travelling light and who have no problem with crowded urban public transport systems! And requires a <5 minute walk down sidewalk at the end to the Grand's door. So I won't go into details of that.
3) Airport shuttle bus. Routes that terminate at Beijing Railway Station or the International Hotel are the most useful, though the Xidan terminus route could also work. RMB 16 and there is luggage compartment for large items, no extra charge for baggage. Subject to same issues as taxis with traffic, though buses don't have to stop at the expressway toll plazas. Taxi from any of the terminus points mentioned to the Grand Hotel should be pretty easily gettable, and only about another RMB 10-15 max as they are all in close proximity. Total cost: RMB 25-30 and total elapsed travel time slightly longer than taxi direct from airport.