Beijing Airfares

Do you consider yourself a savvy flyer? Learn more below about the following discount carriers serving Beijing (PEK). Follow links below to potentially save more on your flight.

AirBerlin and NIKI are the two major, low-fare carriers flying into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). AirBerlin flies to 11 European cities from PEK, including Berlin, Munich and Zurich. NIKI jets to five German cities from Beijing. Air China and China Southern Airlines use PEK as hubs.

Out of the world's busiest airports, Beijing (PEK) is one of the worst in terms of punctuality. More than 50% of their departures were late in 2008. This is due, in part, to their lightning fast growth. Their passenger traffic has more than doubled from 24 million in 2001, to more than 50 million in 2009.

Nearby alternate airports to PEK are Tianjin (TSN), which is 77 miles south and served by discounter AirAsia, and Shijiazhuang (SJW), 146 miles south and is a smaller-sized regional airport.

Beijing Overview

By Rachel Newcombe

In the centre of Beijing, north of Tiananmen Square, is the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum. It’s the largest palace in the world, covering a massive 74 hectares. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties of China, it was used as the imperial palace. UNESCO listed the Palace Museum as a World Heritage Site in 1987. Today, it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in China along with the Great Wall and pretty much anywhere during New Years festivities.

Construction of the Forbidden City began in 1407, during the fifth year of the Yongle reign (third emperor of the Ming dynasty). Up to one million people worked hard on the palace, which took 14 years to complete. Outside, the building is surrounded by a six-metre deep moat and high wall measuring ten metres, with a gate on each side. Yellow is the predominant colour for the inside decorations and roof, as it was regarded as a symbol of the Royal Family.

The palace contains many notable rooms, such as the Hall of Central Harmony, where the emperor rested and waited to greet dignitaries, the Hall of Protective Harmony, where the emperor hosted banquets, and the Palace of Earthy Tranquility, which was the bed chamber of the empress. Access is inevitably limited to some areas, but visitors are able to see the main courtyards, treasures, artefacts and some of the outside garden areas. For anyone interested in getting a better understanding of Chinese history, a visit here is recommended. Go!