Cheap Flights to Beijing Capital Airport

Discover Beijing Capital

Cheap Flights to Beijing Capital

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

The Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the main air facility for China’s capital city. There is a secondary airport called Nanyuan Airport (NAY), which handles all of China United’s routes, and doesn’t tend to operate long-haul international flights.

The Beijing Capital aviation hub is an excellent airport, with lots of facilities, including standard features such as WiFi, shops, restaurants, currency exchange and access to ATMs. Situated 30km outside of the downtown area, the Beijing Capital Airport offers its passengers plenty of ways to get into the city centre. Take the Airport Express, the buses, the private shuttle services, or the railway. There are also taxis that cost about 90-120CNY ($19-25) for the drive into town.

There are lots of airlines that run routes into Beijing from Australia, the most prominent being Air China. Other carriers include Cathay Pacific, Air Canada, ANA, Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, Asiana Airlines, AirAsia, Hong Kong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Thai Airways, Qantas, China Easter, and China Southern among others.

Why visit Beijing?

Beijing, the age-old capital of China, has wielded its influence over the Middle Kingdom for centuries. It is a place of history, culture, modernity, curiosity and of course, food. Travellers to this fantastic city will be bewitched by the legendary stories that have made Beijing what it is today; from its dynastic rulers, to the Great Push. Fly to China, and you will see how this dynamic country has managed to adapt to contemporary life, whilst still retaining its ancient, mysterious heart.

Things to do in Beijing

There are plenty of things to keep any type of traveller happy in this extraordinary capital. Beijing is packed full of cultural attractions, from the religious, to the architectural, to the environmental. See the Temple of Heaven, a series of traditional Taoist buildings, where Emperors used to conduct ceremonies to usher in the harvest. Then make time for the lovely Summer Palace, one of the best preserved examples of an Imperial Garden.

History buffs will have a whale of a time walking through the famed Tiananmen Square, the symbol of communist China, before they step into the aptly named Forbidden City, and delve into the salacious past of the dynastic rulers of this country. Visitors can wander through the Imperial Palace, the gardens, and the courtyards, where power and intrigue went hand in hand.

Outside of the magisterial might of the Forbidden City, travellers can experience the hustle and bustle of Beijing’s streets, and there’s no better place to start than in the Hutongs. Lose yourself in the narrow and labyrinthine pathways that shelter traditional houses, shops, and hole-in-the-wall eateries, a true Beijing pastime.

Avid shoppers will also be invigorated with all this city has to offer, from silk and antique markets (on Silk Street and in Panjiayuan Collection Street), to the flashy shopping districts on Qianmen and Wangfujing Streets, there’s something for every shopaholic’s budget.

Lastly, for the adventurous, there is the monumental Great Wall of China, one of the wonders of the world, and an incredible human achievement. There are sections of the wall for all fitness levels, so that no matter what your age, you can still tread the stones of this ancient cultural icon.

Best time to visit Beijing

· The shoulder seasons of autumn and spring are usually recommended as the best months for first time visitors to Beijing. These seasons fall between March and May, and September through to October. Daily averages fall between 10-22°C, a pleasant temperature to go sightseeing in.

· Though summers are warm, they can also be wet and humid. If you visit during this season, expect temperatures of 25-30°C, and pack a rain jacket just in case.

Arriving in Beijing by plane

· You can find direct and connecting flights from Australia to Beijing. The non-stop services usually depart from Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL).

Currency

· Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY).

Visa requirements

· China has strict visa policies and requires all Australian nationals to apply for a visa. Instructions and information can be found on the smart traveller website, or the Chinese Embassy website.

Please note that information is correct as of June 2016