Beijing Capital International Airport is com-prised of three terminals.
Most international and domestic flights depart from Terminal 3 (T3), which opened in February 2008. Designed by high-profile British architect Sir Norman Foster, T3 features triangular forms that are designed to evoke the shape of a dragon, maximize the perimeter and allow for a “record” number of aircraft parking spaces. Touted as the “world’s largest and most advanced airport building,” T3 nearly doubled the airport’s handling capacity to 60 million passengers. Conveyor belts abound and a high-speed automated train called the APM (Auto People Mover System) – the thin torso of the dragon’s body – ferries passengers across the open-air green space that connects the three buildings of T3.
Far less visually arresting, Terminal 2 (T2) handles about one third the traffic of T3. It is home to a handful of domestic and international carriers. Homely Terminal 1 (T1), aka Nanhang Zhanlou, is used by Xinhua Airlines (CN, GS), Deer Jet Airlines (JD) and Hainan Airlines (HU) for domestic flights. A free shuttle bus links the terminals, with a ten-minute journey between T3 and T2.
While “airport cuisine” used to mean KFC, Le Jazz, and overpriced hefan (box lunch), T3 boasts 72 outlets serving food of all kinds, from Thai, Japanese and Korean to Jackie Chan’s Cafe and Beijing’s first Burger King. Most food outlets are located outside the customs area, near the check-in counters, but there is a food-court adjacent to the most central gates past security.
The many duty free shopping areas in T2 and T3 feature international luxury brands and Chinese products such as tea, silks and handicrafts. ATMs and money-changing options abound. While there is no shortage of plush pandas, newsstand and bookstore selections are disappointingly thin. Note that the departure tax is included in the price of your ticket, so you no longer have to pay the tax at the airport. Further note that porters charge RMB 10 for three bags and are not allowed to accept gratuities.
General enquiries 6457 1100, lost luggage 6459 9523, customer complaints 6454 1166. Terminal 1 6454 0100, Terminal 2 6459 8333, Terminal 3 6453 0030.
Location
Contact
No event here now.