Air
Many more airlines fly direct to Beijing from Europe and the US than was the case just a few years ago. From London Heathrow, the flight time is around 10 hours; from North America, flights from the West Coast take around 13 hours and from the East Coast 18 to 20 hours. China Air is often the cheapest option. Beijing Capital Airport, now fully modernised, is about 18 miles from the city centre. The Airport-City shuttle bus departs from outside Arrivals and takes three routes into the city. The most popular is to Xidan in central Beijing, a short walk from the Forbidden City. The other routes are to Gongzhufen in western Beijing and to Zhongguancun in the city’s north-west district; the shuttle also stops at major hotels. The fare’s about 16RMB. Most of the major hotels offer their own limousine pick-ups and free bus transfers. Metered taxis are available at the airport (journey time to the city centre: 40-60 minutes); passengers should have the destination written in Chinese or indicated on a map. Depending on the destination and category of the taxi, the fare will be between 60 and 120RMB. Beware of drivers who approach you before you reach the taxi rank. Ensure the driver uses a meter or make sure you agree a price before setting off. Beijing Capital Airport’s website is www.bcia.com.cn
Train
An exciting way to travel between Beijing and Europe – at least for those with plenty of time – is to take the Trans-Siberian Railway. Trains leave from Beijing Zhan, the start of a five-day (via Mongolia) or six-day (via north-east China) journey to Moscow. The Beijing International Hotel has a ticket-booking office. Allow at least a week to obtain Russian and Mongolian visas in Beijing. There are also rail routes from Beijing to Moscow via Xinjiang and Central Asia and two trains weekly from Vietnam to Beijing. www.china-train-ticket.com
Before You Go
Nearly all foreign visitors to China will need a visa. Forms should be available for download from the website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your city. Generally what’s needed is a completed form, a passport photo and your passport with a blank double page in it. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the intended date of entry into China.
