What Should You Do in Your First 72 Hours in Beijing?

Last updated: July 13, 2026.

Brian’s take: Beijing is not hard, but it punishes loose planning. The city is large, airport transfers can be long, and the wrong airport or railway station can ruin your first day.

This page is for arrival setup, not sightseeing. Before thinking about hutongs, museums, or business meetings, solve the first layer: airport, phone, payment, hotel address, and your first reliable route.

Table of Contents

Before arrival

Check the airport code, not just the city name. Beijing has Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场, Beijing Shoudu Guoji Jichang, PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (北京大兴国际机场, Beijing Daxing Guoji Jichang, PKX). They are in different directions from the city.
Save your hotel address in Chinese. Include district, road, building name, and phone number. Beijing addresses can look similar in English.
Prepare your transport decision before landing. If you land late, are carrying luggage, or cannot read Chinese signage well, the official taxi queue may beat a complicated rail transfer.
Install and test core apps. Alipay (支付宝, Zhifubao), WeChat (微信, Weixin), WeChat Pay (微信支付, Weixin Zhifu), DiDi (滴滴, Didi), and a reliable map app should be ready before the first morning.
Give yourself buffer time. Beijing distances often feel larger in real life than on a clean map screenshot.

First two hours

If you land at PEK

Confirm terminal, exit, and transport signs before leaving the arrivals area. If your phone data is unstable, fix that first.
Airport rail can be efficient if your hotel is near a good transfer point. It is less fun if you have large luggage and still need two metro transfers.
Official taxi is the low-stress choice for many first-time visitors. Show the Chinese hotel address and keep your payment backup ready.

If you land at PKX

Do not assume Daxing is just another terminal. It is a separate airport south of the city.
Check whether the airport express, taxi, or hotel pickup makes the most sense for your hotel. The cheapest route is not always the best first-night route.
If someone is meeting you, confirm the exact arrival level or door. Big airports make “I am at the exit” too vague.

First night

Ask the hotel to write or confirm your address in Chinese. Save it as an image, not only as selectable text inside a booking app.
Test payment near the hotel. Buy water or a small snack. If Alipay or WeChat Pay fails, fix it before you need a ride.
Ask the front desk which entrance drivers should use. Many Beijing hotels, malls, and office buildings have multiple gates.
Do not schedule a tight early morning plan after a late arrival. Your first morning may involve payment, phone, map, or ID-check friction.

First full day

Use the subway when the route is simple. Beijing traffic can be slow, and subway security checks are normal.
Use DiDi after you understand your hotel pickup point. The app is useful, but drivers need a precise pickup location.
Carry your passport for train stations, tickets, and some real-name checks. Do not leave it locked away if your day involves transport or official entry.
Check which railway station you need before booking or leaving. Beijing South, Beijing West, Beijing Chaoyang, and Beijing Fengtai are not interchangeable.

Beijing-specific failure points

PEK and PKX are not the same airport. Always check the airport code on your ticket and pickup plan.
Beijing railway stations are spread out. Beijing South Railway Station (北京南站, Beijing Nan Zhan), Beijing West Railway Station (北京西站, Beijing Xi Zhan), Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station (北京朝阳站, Beijing Chaoyang Zhan), and Beijing Fengtai Railway Station (北京丰台站, Beijing Fengtai Zhan) serve different routes.
Map distance can be misleading. A route that looks short may take longer because of ring roads, security checks, traffic, or station walking time.
Some places require advance booking or real-name checks. This is not just a tourist issue; it can affect transport and major venues too.
English place names can be weak. Show Chinese names and addresses whenever possible.

What to show if you are stuck

请问，我要去这个地址。 (Qingwen, wo yao qu zhege dizhi.)
Please, I need to go to this address.
请问，这是首都机场还是大兴机场？ (Qingwen, zhe shi Shoudu Jichang haishi Daxing Jichang?)
Is this Capital Airport or Daxing Airport?
请问，我应该去哪个火车站？ (Qingwen, wo yinggai qu nage huochezhan?)
Which railway station should I go to?

FAQ

Which Beijing airport is better?

The better airport is the one that matches your flight and hotel route. PEK and PKX sit in different directions, so compare the actual transfer, not only the ticket price.

Can I rely on taxis in Beijing?

Yes, but use official queues and show the Chinese address. For ride-hailing, make sure your pickup point is precise.

What is the mistake I should avoid first?

Booking or navigating by “Beijing” only. Use the airport code, railway station name, district, and Chinese address.

Official pages to check before you travel

Next: Read what to do if you land late at night or save the taxi and DiDi phrase cards.