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Whether you’re heading home to Beijing for a holiday or flying around the world to explore Beijing for the first time, we’ve got cheap flights to Beijing to make your trip a lot easier. Walk the Great Wall of China, see the Forbidden City or see giant pandas up-close at the Beijing zoo. Come to Beijing for an epic vacation or an amazing study abroad experience—no matter what brings you to Beijing, it’ll be an experience like no other!
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Keep scrolling for more info on how to find cheap flights to Beijing, the best time to visit Beijing, things to do in Beijing and more.
The main international airport in Beijing is Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Nearly all flights from the US to Beijing will arrive at PEK. Beginning October 2019, a new international airport in Beijing, the Beijing Daxing International Airport, will be open and serving both domestic and international flights.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK): The PEK airport is Beijing’s main international airport, located about 20 miles from the city center. It has three terminals—Terminal 2 and 3 service international flights. It’s a busy airport, so leave 3-3.5 hours to get through security and customs.
The easiest way to get downtown from the Beijing airport is via the Airport Express train. It arrives every 15 minutes at both Terminal 2 and 3. A one-way ticket costs 25 RMB ($3.50). You can also take a taxi, which takes 1-1.5 hours and costs about 100-150 RMB ($14-21 USD).
The US is well-connected to Beijing, with both direct and connecting flights to Beijing from dozens of US cities.The most popular airlines for flights from the US to Beijing are United Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines and American Airlines. Of course, there are many more airlines that offer both nonstop and connecting flights from the US to Beijing.
Keep scrolling to check out these cheap direct flights to Beijing from New York, Boston, Los Angeles and more.
Average flight duration
13h 30m direct, 19h+ connecting
Number of daily flights
There are 58 (nonstop) flights between New York’s JFK airport and Beijing’s PEK airport every week, or about 8 daily.
Average flight duration
13h 35m direct, 20h+ connecting
Number of daily flights
There are 34 (nonstop) flights between Chicago’s ORD airport and Beijing’s PEK airport every week, or about 4 each day.
Average flight duration
13h 50m direct, 17h connecting
Number of daily flights
There is one (nonstop) flight from Boston to Beijing each day.
Average flight duration
12h 55m direct, 21h+ connecting
Number of daily flights
There are about 20 (nonstop) flights daily between LAX and Beijing.
Overall, Beijing is a good place to travel year-round, however there are some things you might want to keep in mind. Winters can be quite chilly with some snow, while summer months (especially July and August) are humid and rainy. Spring brings vibrant colors to Beijing and mild weather, so March through May can be a particularly good time to visit. Fall, too, offers milder weather and fewer tourists. For the cheapest prices and the fewest amount of tourists, visit in the winter. For the best weather, visit during spring or fall.
Keep in mind that Beijing can become crazy crowded during national public holidays! Chinese New Year (early February), Mid-Autumn Festival (mid-September) and early October are all times that you’ll likely find Beijing very crowded.
Prices based on searches for 30-60 days prior to departure.
Why visit Beijing? Beijing has a bit of everything, so there’s something for everyone. Whether you want to experience Beijing’s modern architecture and shopping or explore ancient sights like the Forbidden City, there’s always more to see and do in Beijing. Keep reading for more things that students love about Beijing!
Two of the top universities in Beijing for international students are Tsinghua University and Peking University. Both of these schools have large international student communities, are world-class universities and are located in the famous Haidian District university town. Peking University is the #1 liberal arts college in China but is also well-known for its scientific research. Tsinghua University is a strong science and research school, but is also well-known for its business school.
Many US universities also have study abroad programs in Beijing that you can learn about through your school’s study abroad office.
Life in Beijing is full of energy and fast-paced! Like many big cities, you’ll find that Beijing doesn’t lose energy after the sun goes down. Many students enjoy going to bars or KTV (karaoke) in the evenings. During your stay in Beijing, be sure to taste some of the most famous local foods, like Peking Roast Duck, a famous local dish. While you may find many of the customs in Beijing different than what you’re used to in the US, don’t be afraid to make mistakes—traveling in China is definitely a learning experience.
Good news: it’s totally possible to explore Beijing on a budget! From museums to national monuments, there’s plenty of free things to do. Even some of Beijing’s main sights have very affordable entrance prices. (The Forbidden City, for example, costs only 60 RMB, or $8 to enter.) Experience Tiananmen Square located at the heart of the city. Stroll through Wangfujing for some window-shopping and tons of street food or have a cup of tea on Maliandao Tea Street. Many of Beijing’s museums and parks are free as well, including the massive National Art Museum of China, the China National Film Museum, the National Museum of China and the Beijing Museum of Natural History. The Purple Bamboo Park is one of the most photogenic parks—perfect for a picnic or a couple of snaps for the ‘gram.
