Beijing Nanyuan Airport

If you’re tired of long walks, crowds, or sold out flights, Capital Airport doesn’t have to be your only option when it comes to flying out of Beijing. The little known Beijing Nanyuan Airport, sitting approximately 20km south of Tiananmen Square, serves as a very viable alternative for domestic flights. And with 113% passenger growth since 2007, the airport is becoming more and more relevant. It was originally built in 1904 as a small runway and was China’s first airport. Later it was the site where the PLA air force was formed. Now, China United Airlines, founded in its present form in 2005, is the only airline that operates out of the airport to 22 destinations throughout the nation.

There is a bus from Xidan Civil Aviation Building, 西单民航大厦, (right outside the C exit of the Xidan subway station) for RMB 16, leaving daily at 0610, 0700, 0900, 1100, 1300, 1400, and 1500. Travel time is 1 hour. Coming back to Xidan, a bus attendant informed us there was no set return schedule, but buses are available throughout the day to pick up passengers up to the last arrival.