Hello -

I am trying to figure out the "best" way to get from PEK to Tianjin. Rome2rio shows a 35(ish) min train from Beijing South but I don't think I'll make that last train due to arrival time. How long does it take to get from PEK to Beijing South? R2r also shows a $60-75 taxi - is that accurate? I'd pay $60+ for door to door. I assume that would have to be a hired car rather than through the taxi stand (?)

Thanks
Cheers

First, stop using Rome2rio--for China, it can be wildly inaccurate and doesn't address all the nuances when you have to switch transport modes for a given journey. You cannot take a regular taxi from Beijing airport to Tianjin since it crosses jurisdictions and even if allowed, takes too long for cabbies to get back to the city to turn in their cab for shift changes. At night, it takes about an hour to get from PEK to Beijing South. There is an airport shuttle bus to Beijing South departing every 30 minutes until 22:30, it will take about 1.25 hours vs the direct taxi but costs only RMB 24.

You don't mention the critical factor: what time are you arriving into PEK? The options that you have are:
1) Intercity shuttle bus from PEK to Tianjin city, followed by Tianjin taxi from bus drop to your hotel/final destination. Buses leave every 45 minutes or from 19:00, hourly with last one is at 23:00, takes about 2.5 hours cost is RMB 82. Taxi cost in Tianjin varies with distance to final destination.
2) Taxi from PEK to Beijing South Station (approx RMB 120), followed by fast train to Tianjin, + taxi in Tianjin to final destination. Last fast train is at 23:05, takes 35 minutes, cost is RMB 66 1st class seat. In order to make this train, your international arrival into PEK would need to be around 20:00, to allow for Immigration/Bag Claim procedural time and transport time to Beijing South + ticket pickup.
3) Prearranged car/driver PEK to destination, door-to-door. This is going to cost a lot more than USD 60...probably more like USD 150 and will take 2.5-3 hours. If your flight arrival is scheduled for 22:00 or later, it is probably your only option if you must get to Tianjin that night.

You might consider just getting a hotel in Beijing for the night, then taking one of the early fast trains to Tianjin the next morning...they start running about 06:00. That would be my personal choice if arriving too late for reasonable public transport.

The time savings on the nonstop C train to Tianjin is basically offset by the time it takes to get from PEK to Beijing South. Personally, I'd finish the trip the same night by taking the airport bus directly to Tianjin.

Thank You ^. Let me digest the real info above - rather than R2r's data.

Flight arrives at 7:25 PM and no set time to be in Tianjin. 9:00PM shuttle and in Tainjin b/f midnight sound reasonable?

However, I don't think I've been in the South station area - looks like it could be an interesting area to explore and spend a night (if Taoranting Park is open late).

Cheers -

That's not particularly late, so continuing all the way is possible. With an on-time arrival, yes, you should be able to catch the 21:00 airport shuttle bus to Tianjin. Follow signs once on the public sign of the terminal after Customs Exit to the bus level.

The area around Beijing South was bulldozed for construction of the new station and it's one of the least interesting parts of Beijing. The station itself is more airline terminal than train station in scale and design.

In any event, given the ubiquity of the Metro, no reason to stay near Beijing South if you decide to spend a day in Beijing before heading to Tianjin.

I'm looking at something similar to this later in the year. I'll be in Beijing for a few days and found a great fare on a Scoot flight from Tianjin to Singapore. However, it departs TSN at 9:20am. Is it feasible to take the train to TSN in the morning or should I stay near TSN the prior evening?

Go the night before.

I personally would get to and stay in Tianjin the afternoon before. Hotel doesn't have to be specifically by the airport, even downtown Tianjin would be OK. If you tried to stay in Beijing the last night and take the 06:15 G train to Tianjin South station arriving 06:49, you'll end up on the opposite side of the city from TSN then would have to spend an hour in a taxi in traffic, putting your arrival at TSN at 08:00 or a bit after. That's not a lot of time to do an international departure process before a 09:20 flight.

Thanks for the info - looks like a night in Tianjin.