Introduction

Landing after a long flight, the last thing you want is to stand in an arrivals hall unsure how to reach your hotel. The good news is that Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou all have excellent, affordable airport transport, and once you know the options, getting into the city is simple. The choice usually comes down to a trade-off between price, speed, and how much luggage you’re hauling.

This guide breaks down the main options for each city’s major airports in 2026, with rough costs and travel times, plus how to pay. As a rule, trains are cheapest and traffic-proof, while taxis and DiDi offer door-to-door ease at a higher price. Here’s how it works in each city.

Before You Begin

Two bits of preparation make airport transport painless anywhere in China.

First, set up a mobile wallet. Alipay or WeChat Pay, linked to your foreign card, lets you pay for metro tickets, ride-hailing, and most other transport without fumbling for cash. DiDi, the main ride-hailing app, is especially convenient because you pay in-app and avoid any language barrier with a driver.

Second, carry a small amount of cash as backup, since a few situations, like an older taxi, may prefer it. With a wallet set up and some yuan on hand, every option below is open to you.

Now, city by city.

Get your China transport essentials sorted

Beijing

Beijing has two major airports, and they’re very different distances from the center.

Capital Airport (PEK) is the closer, more established hub. The Airport Express train is the efficient choice at about 25 RMB, reaching the metro network at Dongzhimen in 20 to 30 minutes, where you connect to the rest of the city. A taxi runs about 100 to 150 RMB and takes 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, and DiDi is similar. For most travelers headed into central Beijing, the Airport Express is fast and cheap.

Daxing Airport (PKX) sits far to the south, so distance is the main consideration. The Daxing Airport Express costs about 35 RMB and moves quickly toward Caoqiao, and there’s also a high-speed rail link for parts of the journey. A taxi from PKX is 200 RMB or more and takes over an hour, so unless you have heavy luggage or a late arrival, the express options are usually the better value given the distance.

Shanghai

Shanghai’s two airports offer some of the most interesting transport choices in China.

Pudong Airport (PVG) is home to the famous Maglev, which reaches speeds that cover most of the distance to Longyang Road in just 7 to 8 minutes for around 50 RMB, or a bit less with a same-day flight ticket. From Longyang Road you transfer to the metro to reach your final stop. If you’d rather go direct and cheap, Metro Line 2 runs all the way into the city for about 7 to 8 RMB, though it’s slow at 60 to 90 minutes with a transfer. A taxi is roughly 150 to 200 RMB and takes 45 to 60 minutes. The Maglev is a fun, fast experience; the metro is the budget pick; the taxi wins on door-to-door convenience with luggage.

Hongqiao Airport (SHA) is closer to the center and well connected by Metro Lines 2 and 10, which are very cheap at around 4 to 7 RMB and drop you near the city core. A taxi from Hongqiao is a modest 60 to 100 RMB. Because it’s central, almost any option is quick and affordable here.

Guangzhou

Baiyun Airport (CAN) is served efficiently by Metro Line 3, which connects to the city center for about 7 RMB and takes roughly 50 to 70 minutes, avoiding road traffic entirely. This is the most reliable choice for predictable timing. A taxi runs around 150 to 180 RMB and takes 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, with DiDi similar or slightly cheaper. If you’re traveling in rush hour or want to be sure of your arrival time, the metro is hard to beat; for late arrivals or heavy bags, ride-hailing is worth the extra cost.

How to Choose and Pay

A simple way to decide across all three cities.

  1. Traveling light and watching your budget: take the metro or airport express train. It’s cheapest and immune to traffic, and every city above has a good rail link from its airport.

  2. Heavy luggage, late arrival, or traveling as a group: take a taxi or DiDi for door-to-door convenience. Split among a few people, the cost per person becomes reasonable.

  3. Want speed and a bit of novelty in Shanghai: the Pudong Maglev is genuinely quick and a memorable start to a trip.

For payment, use your mobile wallet wherever possible. Metro machines and gates increasingly accept Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes, DiDi charges your linked wallet or card in-app, and taxis usually take mobile pay or cash. Having a wallet set up plus a little cash means you’re never stuck at the one machine that won’t take your method.

Summary

Reaching the city from the airport is easy in all three cities once you know the options. In Beijing, the Airport Express from Capital (about 25 RMB) or the Daxing Express from the more distant PKX (about 35 RMB) are the efficient picks. In Shanghai, the Pudong Maglev is fast and fun at around 50 RMB, Metro Line 2 is the budget option, and Hongqiao is close enough that anything works. In Guangzhou, Metro Line 3 into the center for about 7 RMB is the most traffic-proof choice. Across the board, trains are cheapest and most reliable, while taxis and DiDi offer convenience at 100 to 200 RMB. Set up a mobile wallet, keep a little cash, and pick based on your luggage and budget.