making the PEK airport train work for you
 

Hi. I took the PEK Airport Express train for the first time about a week ago.

While this stuff might seem obvious, I don't think it's been covered on FT yet, so here goes:

-the train travels from San Yuan Qiao to T3, to T2, and then back to San Yuan Qiao and Dongzhimen.
-this means that you should try to fly into T2 or T1 if you don't mind walking and depart from T3
-otherwise, the extra 10 mins of travel time erases any possible time savings
-the train departs from B2 in T2, which isn't very well marked; follow the signs to the elevator
-trains seem to run every 18 minutes or so
-cost is y25
-when you get off the train in San Yuan Qiao, I recommend jumping in a taxi because line 10 is often extremely crowded
-chose the NW exit if you are heading south (most people); otherwise, you're in for a long walk and a longer taxi ride just to swing the U-turn

Thanks for the tips!

I can't believe it was your first time! .. and that I took it before you did .. on my first trip to China!

Thanks also for all your help in this forum. Made my trip much easier!

It may have been moondoggie's first time, but I'm still a virgin! When the taxi costs less than Y100, the airport train is a tough sell for me.

The train terminal is nice looking but in July and August its feels
like you are in a steam bath. In December thru February it feels
like an icebox. They should put some heaters and fans by the waiting
platform.

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.

Only one data point, but I had no trouble getting a taxi at Dongzhimen Stn. Yesterday afternoon. However, one really annoying thing about Dongzhimen is that there are no elevators/escalators.

The plane lands at 12:10pm at PEK, on sunday. I guess the sunday afternoon won't be that crowded. I'm planning to carry a medium size baggage, just one. Not light but not that heavy.

that could be a problem, I'll be think about it.

Thanks.

I did it with two 20kg bags --plus computer bag-- and got an intense 30 second workout, during which I pondered how the Airport Express planning committee could have possibly overlooked this obvious issue (i.e. $x billion project, $xxx,xxx elevator). Incidentally, San Yuan Qiao Stn. does not have the same problem.

I can't really recommend a subway xfer in your case because you'd need to do so twice... and still might encounter some stairs.

Now that I think more about this, since you're flying into T3 -- which adds an extra ~8 mins onto your train journey, I strongly advise you to grab a taxi.

They spend all that money for the fancy train and it ends in virtually a no man's land...at least that's kinda your first thought. Am I in the right place:confused:

Typical of Chinese building and infrastructure projects--snatching Defeat from the jaws of Victory.

@VV: Your Sunday mid-day arrival means a bit less than normal traffic on the roadways, so I agree with Moondog--if you are flying into T3, I'd just do the taxi. Or if you are trying to be thrifty (a stay at the Grand Hotel notwithstanding :D ), take the Airport Bus as I described above and then taxi the final less-than-one-mile.

They might have run out of money after building that glass roof.

http://static1.travelandleisure.com/...rt-beijing.jpg

http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/BeijingIn...0353512879.jpg

http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archive...E/DSC04165.jpg