What is the easiest way from a Chinese airport into the city?

After arrivals, start with your destination, terminal and the transport signs, not a fare quoted for a different airport. Beijing's visitor guide lists subway, airport shuttle bus, taxi and ride-hailing from its airports. Shanghai's airport guide likewise separates bus, metro and taxi instructions by airport and terminal. Those examples show why the airport name alone is not enough to choose a pickup point.

If rail reaches a useful stop for your stay, follow the airport's rail signs and check the service for your arrival time. Beijing's official guide says both of its airports have subway stations; Shanghai's guide maps metro services to particular terminals. For a late arrival, check the last train before committing to the platform. Station notices carry first and last train times, and service changes can alter them.

An airport bus can spare you a rail change, but read its stops against your destination before buying. Beijing's visitor guide says shuttle buses leave from its terminals and sell tickets at machines or booths. The route, stop and departure you need are airport-specific, so read the current board or ask the staffed counter rather than taking a bus because it says 'city'.

For a taxi, follow the airport's signed taxi queue and have your destination in Chinese ready; Beijing's official arrival guide advises both. For a ride booked in an app, select the correct terminal and use the displayed pickup area. Beijing says its airports have designated ride-hailing pickup areas, and Shanghai publishes different taxi stand locations by terminal. The taxi queue and your app's pickup pin are two different instructions to follow.

For ride-hailing, the State Council's guide for foreign visitors names DiDi. Its Greater China app lets foreigners register with a foreign mobile number and an international credit card; on foreign app stores it is listed as “DiDi China: Ride Hailing”, with an English interface. Without the app, open Alipay and choose Transport, then Taxi. Set this up before you fly: our DiDi guide covers registering without a Chinese number.

Use these airport names to find the right signs; the routes below were checked on September 30, 2026, but check the board after landing.

Beijing: Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX) both list an airport express rail service and airport buses. Ask at the Beijing Service counter for the current bus stop. Daxing's Beijing Railway Station bus route was listed as running around the clock in the city's August 2026 update. For taxi or app pickup, follow the terminal signs.

Chengdu: At Shuangliu (CTU), Metro Line 10 serves both terminals and Line 19 serves Terminal 2. Tianfu (TFU) also has a Line 19 stop. Shuangliu's airport page lists a night bus to Chunxi Road. For the taxi queue at either airport, use the signs in your arrival terminal.

Chongqing: At Jiangbei (CKG), Line 10 serves Terminal 3 and Lines 3 and 10 serve Terminal 2. Airport bus K01 goes toward Jiefangbei. Follow the signed taxi pickup area if you need a car, and check the current bus schedule before relying on a late departure.

Guangzhou: At Baiyun (CAN), Metro Line 3's Airport North stop serves Terminal 2. Terminal 3 has the Baiyun Airport East intercity rail stop and coaches from the ground transport center's west bus station. For a metered taxi at Terminal 3, look for the east or west taxi pickup point. Check your actual terminal before following any of these signs.

Nanjing: From Lukou (NKG), Metro Line S1 goes to Nanjing South; the airport coach operator also lists city routes leaving from Terminals 1 and 2. Its January 2025 notice says the Terminal 1 service toward Nanjing Railway Station ran until the last arriving flight. Confirm the current stop and service at the airport; use the taxi signs for a car.

Shanghai: From Pudong (PVG), take Metro Line 2 or an airport bus; the airport guide puts taxi pickup outside Arrival Gate 12 at Terminal 1 and Arrival Gate 25 at Terminal 2. At Hongqiao (SHA), Line 10 serves Terminal 1, while Lines 2 and 10 serve Terminal 2. Buses run from both terminals; taxi pickup is outside Gate 1 at Terminal 1 or Gate 4 at Terminal 2.

Shenzhen: At Bao'an (SZX), Metro Line 11 is inside the ground transportation center, or GTC. Airport Express buses leave from its west platform near Door 17; the taxi rank is on the east platform via Door 13. The city's transport page lists overnight NA1 buses toward Futian and Luohu. Match your app's pickup area separately if you booked a car.

Xi'an: At Xianyang (XIY), Metro Line 14 has separate Airport West (Terminals 1–3) and Airport (Terminal 5) stops. The airport bus guide lists routes from Terminals 2, 3 and 5, including a late-night route after 1 am until the last flight. The retrieved official page did not give a taxi pickup point, so follow the airport's taxi signs.