
Wellcome to Beijing
1. City position
Beijing is China’s capital and the country’s political, cultural, and international relations center.
It is where national policies are made, major state-owned enterprises are headquartered, and many key decisions affecting the whole Chinese market are taken.The city combines government institutions, top universities, research institutes, and leading technology companies, making it one of China’s most important hubs for policy, education, innovation, and high‑end services.
For international companies, Beijing is the natural entry point to unders2. Location and geography
Beijing lies in northern China and is the core city of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (Jing‑Jin‑Ji) region.
It borders Hebei Province and Tianjin Municipality, with convenient access to North China’s major industrial bases, ports, and inland markets.The city is surrounded by mountains to the west, north, and northeast, with plains opening toward the southeast.
This geography historically made Beijing a strategic capital and still shapes today’s logistics, climate, and development patterns.3. Key industries
Beijing’s economy is dominated by services and knowledge‑intensive sectors rather than heavy manufacturing.
- Government and public administration – home to central ministries, regulators, and national agencies.
- Finance and professional services – strong presence in banking, securities, asset management, law, and consulting.
- Technology and artificial intelligence – one of China’s leading AI and digital‑economy hubs, with clusters in Zhongguancun and other innovation parks.
- Education and research – top universities and research institutes drive basic research, AI for science, healthcare, and deep‑tech development.
- Media, culture, and creative industries – national media organizations, film and TV production, and cultural tourism all concentrate in Beijing.
For international businesses, Beijing is particularly attractive for policy‑driven sectors (finance, healthcare, telecoms, energy), deep‑tech and AI, and partnerships with universities and research labs.
4. Beijing Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport is Beijing’s traditional main international airport and one of China’s most important aviation hubs. Located in the northeast of the city, in Chaoyang and Shunyi districts, it serves a large volume of domestic and international passenger traffic and remains a major gateway for global business and travel.
Beijing Daxing International Airport
Beijing Daxing International Airport is Beijing’s newer large-scale international airport, located in the southern part of the municipality near the Beijing–Hebei border. Known for its modern design and large capacity, it was built to strengthen Beijing’s global connectivity and works together with Capital Airport as part of the city’s dual-airport system.
Beijing Xijiao Airport
Beijing Xijiao Airport is located in the western part of Beijing and is not a regular commercial passenger airport. It is mainly used for military, government, and special aviation purposes rather than standard domestic or international civilian travel.
Beijing Shahe Airport
Beijing Shahe Airport is situated in the northern part of Beijing, in the Changping area. Like Xijiao Airport, it is not a major civilian international airport and is mainly associated with military, training, or other non-regular aviation functions.
5. Transport and mobility
Metro system
Beijing operates one of the world’s largest urban rail networks, with over 20 lines including Lines 1–19, the Changping, Yizhuang, Fangshan, S1, Daxing Airport Express, and Capital Airport Line.
The metro connects almost all major business districts, railway stations, universities, and residential areas, and is generally the fastest way to move around the city.Operating scope (2026): lines such as 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and multiple suburban and airport lines are in service.
Ticket price: most trips within central Beijing cost around RMB 3–10 depending on distance and line combinations, based on the distance‑pricing model used across the network.
Taxi fares
Taxis are widely available and operate 24 hours a day.
Flag‑down rate: usually around RMB 13 for the first 3 km in the daytime.
Per‑kilometre rate: about RMB 2.3 per km after 3 km in the daytime, with a higher rate at night; some 2026 calculators show average per‑km costs of about RMB 3 when including surcharges.
Waiting / low‑speed time: an extra fee is charged when the car is stuck in traffic or waiting for longer periods.
@2026 ChinaBusinessAccess
