Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), the second international airport in Beijing, opened on September 29th 2019 with the second-largest single-building airport terminal in the world.
I visited the airport one week after its opening to experience its daily operation. To get to the airport from Beijing city centre there are two railway options, many airport bus routes and of course you can drive.
High-Speed Train
A new high-speed railway service connecting the urban area of Beijing to the new airport was opened on September 26th 2019. The train departs from Beijing West railway station and takes only 28 minutes to the airport, with a top speed of 250 km/h (160 mph).
Beijing West railway station connects Beijing subway Line 7 and Line 9. It is the largest railway station in Asia and serves a maximum of 400,000 people per day. Currently, there is a dedicated entrance for passengers going to Daxing Airport at the centre of the station.
Beijing West Railway Station South Entrance 
Beijing West Railway Station Interior 
Dedicated Entrance for Daxing Airport
Ticketing centres are located on either side of the entrance.
All trains serving Daxing Airport depart from Waiting Room 10, Business Class passengers can use the lounge at Waiting Room 12.
Waiting Room 12 
Business Class Lounge 
Ticket Check
Each day a dozen trains serve each way with three different classes, Business Class, First Class, and Second Class. Note that every seat on the train has charging ports and has access to free WiFi.
CR400AF (Fuxing) Train 
CR400AF (Fuxing) Train 
Speed
Business Class is above First and features full-flat seats in 1-1 or 1-2 configurations.
Business Class 
Business Class 
Business Class 
Charging Port 
WiFi 
Tray Table
First Class is in a 2-2 configuration with seats all facing forward.
First Class 
First Class
Second Class is also in a 2-2 configuration but with narrower seats facing both forward and rearward.
Second Class 
Second Class
Two trains each day have a short stop at Beijing Daxing station.
Beijing Daxing Station 
Beijing Daxing Station 
Beijing Daxing Station
Daxing Airport Station has full platform screen doors installed.
Daxing Airport Station 
Daxing Airport Station
Daxing Airport Station 
Daxing Airport Station 
Daxing Airport Station
At Daxing Airport Station, you can either go to the manual ticketing window or use one of the ticketing machines shown below.
Subway
Another railway transportation that connects the airport to the urban area of Beijing is the Daxing Airport Express of Beijing Subway. The line links Caoqiao station on Line 10 to the airport.
Caoqiao Station 
Caoqiao Station 
Caoqiao Station
You can easily check-in at the city terminal in Caoqiao Station and that includes any luggage that you may have. Your checked luggage will take the first section of the subway, which is a luggage car, to the airport directly.
The line operates at a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) and is fully automated. The travel time from Caoqiao to the Airport is only 19 minutes. Ordinary Class one-way fare is ¥35 and Business Class one-way fare is ¥50 from Caoqiao to Daxing Airport. I love the design of the ticket.
The Business Class is in a 1-2 configuration and each seat gets a tray table, a reading light and a USB charging port.
Business Class 
Business Class 
Business Class 
Business Class 
Business Class 
Business Class
The Ordinary Class is in a 2-2 configuration and each seat gets a USB charging port.
Ordinary Class 
Ordinary Class 
Ordinary Class
Between Caoqiao and Daxing Airport, there is another station called Daxing Xincheng; do not get off at the wrong station!
Daxing Xincheng 
Daxing Xincheng 
Daxing Xincheng
Daxing Airport Station has many automatic ticketing machines.
Daxing Airport Station 
Daxing Airport Station
Business Class passengers get a dedicated boarding area and there is even a small lounge inside.
Business Class 
Business Class 
Business Class
Even the Subway station is beautifully designed to reflect the style of the airport.
Daxing Airport Station 
Daxing Airport Station
Check-In
For domestic flights, there are check-in counters in all three departure levels (4F, 3F, B1) even underground. On the B1 floor, there are check-in counters right across the subway and the train stations.
B1 Check-in 
B1 Check-in 
B1 Check-in 
B1 Check-in 
B1 Check-in
On the third floor, there are check-in areas for premium passengers. China Southern‘s is located on the west side and China Eastern‘s is located on the east side.
The fourth floor has check-in counters for all flights. In the future when international flights begin, their check-in counters will also be located here.
There are many automated machines at the check-in counters and if you look carefully, you will find that the luggage belt is on the same level as the floor; this means that you do not need to lift the luggage at check-in anymore. All airports should install a belt like this.
Currently, China United Airlines, as the first airline operating at Daxing, is offering a beautiful special boarding pass.
Security
For domestic flights, there are security checkpoints both on the B1 and on the third floor. B1 checkpoint has the most efficient design I found at Daxing. Stepping out from the subway, 5 minutes walk to the security, 5 minutes get through it and within the next 5 minutes you are at the boarding gate.
The third-floor security is designed for all domestic departures and we can expect exclusive security in both premium areas. Later, for international flights, passengers will go through customs and security on the fourth floor.
Terminal
The airport’s master plan was designed by Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO). The terminal building was designed by British architects Zaha Hadid Architects and French planners ADPI, it was executed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). Designed by all these top architects in the world, Daxing Airport is one of the most beautiful airports I have ever visited.
In the resting area there are many different kinds of seats, including working desks with charging ports and a children’s area.
For lounges, both China Southern and China Eastern have their own; the airport also operates a lounge for other airlines. Passengers travelling on the second floor of an Airbus A380s can expect to board the upstairs directly.
At each end of the five concourses, there is a different outdoor courtyard.
Shops & Restaurants
Daxing Airport has over a hundred different shops and restaurants across the terminal. Passengers can get more stuff from here than from many shopping malls. Eaters can taste Beijing roast duck, hotpot, dumplings, milk tea and almost every other thing you can think of. These are also banks, postal offices, travel agencies, supermarkets and fruit stores in the terminal.
Bottom Line
Daxing Airport is definitely one of those airports where I would be willing to spend a whole day to transfer. The scale of automation use is incredible, from check-in to security to boarding. If feels as if there are unlimited food choices and stores to check out. Most importantly, getting to or from the city centre is fast and comfortable.
How do you feel about Beijing Daxing Airport? Do you want to fly there one day?
Can foreigner use vending machine for high speed train from the airport? or is it bookable from trip.com or 12306.cn?
Foreigners cannot use vending machines, as you need to present your ID to register your details. You need to go to the manual booth. You can book on 12306 but also need to go to a manual booth to present your ID and collect tickets.
Toilets? Eastern or Western?
And isn’t this more an airport impression as it’s too early for a review until one has actually used it in its primary function, catching flights, a few times?
The toilets are in Western style and there are also exclusive ones for people that need extra help. This article can be considered as an impression and a review at the same time. It is my first time visiting but also my first time flying there.