Travelling from Chicago to Beijing: what you need to know
Start your travel planning by considering where you'll catch your flight from Chicago to Beijing. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) are Chicago's main airports.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Daxing International Airport (PKX) are Beijing's chief entry points.
Around 13 hours 45 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct Chicago to Beijing flight.
The timezone in Beijing is UTC+8, which is 13 hours ahead of Chicago.
With three weekly flights between the two airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the busiest route. Hop on the earliest flight from Chicago to Beijing with United Airlines at 12:55. If you prefer to get more out of your day before taking off, the last departure from ORD to PEK is with United Airlines at 12:55.
For a stress-free start to your trip, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to catch your Chicago to Beijing flight.
Peak months like August or holiday periods such as spring break and Christmas will mean bigger queues at security and check-in. Be on the safe side and head to the terminal even earlier. Arriving two hours before a domestic flight and four hours ahead of an international departure is a smart idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Beijing
Score cheap Chicago to Beijing flights by booking six months ahead. According to our research, that's the ideal time frame for bagging a bargain.
September is the best month for scoring an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Chicago to Beijing. If you want to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
Getting a cheap flight from Chicago to Beijing is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when the price has dropped.
Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Chicago to Beijing flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
If you're after a direct flight from Chicago to Beijing, you can leave from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Travel from ORD to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) without any stops.
Keep an eye out for deals with United Airlines. This airline offers direct Chicago to Beijing plane tickets from ORD.
We make it a breeze to find a Chicago to Beijing flight with a stopover. To see all your options leaving from O'Hare International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Next, pick a flight that has a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Some popular stopovers include:
Haneda Airport (HND)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
The journey from central Chicago to ORD takes around 55 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 35 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Need a handy hotel close to O'Hare International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Chicago to Beijing, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure lounge:
When it comes to the on-time performance of O'Hare International Airport, data shows 74.85% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
ORD's address is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Break up your Chicago to Beijing flight with a stop so you can recharge or cross a new place off your list. Popular stopovers between Chicago Midway International Airport and Beijing are:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
MDW is about 14 kilometres from central Chicago. It'll take 20 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
You're off on holiday, so why not enjoy an extra night away from home? Consider staying at one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your flight from Chicago to Beijing:
When it comes to flights staying on schedule, Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 77.88%.
The address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to central Beijing takes around 40 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 26 kilometres away.
Reserve a hotel near PEK if you have a late flight from Chicago to Beijing. Settle into one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Go beyond Beijing and check out places that usually fly under the radar with your own set of wheels. You can grab a Beijing Capital International Airport rental car from Hertz.
Reserve your vehicle from Beijing Capital International Airport a few weeks in advance to get the lowest price possible. If you're going away during a busy period, it's smart to book your Chicago to Beijing flight even earlier.
PEK is situated at Capital Airport Rd.
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
As soon as your flight from Chicago to Beijing has landed, you can reach the city centre in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Central Beijing is approximately 40 kilometres from Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel close to PKX. Here are a few options where you can take a load off after your flight from Chicago to Beijing:
Best time to go to Beijing
April is the busiest month for flights from Chicago to Beijing. To steer clear of the crowds, go to Beijing in February.
Book a Chicago to Beijing ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Beijing to range from 21ºC to 35ºC.
Search for cheap flights from Chicago to Beijing in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -11ºC and 3ºC on average.
More about Beijing
After booking your flight from Chicago to Beijing, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Beijing:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square are leading attractions which should be on every Beijing itinerary.
Explore more of China
Beijing has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of China just waiting to be explored. Around 113 kilometres south-east of Beijing, a visit to Tianjin will keep your itinerary busy. Check out popular attractions like Ancient Culture Street, Porcelain house and Haihe River.
Tai'an is another favourite destination in China and is around 418 kilometres south of Beijing. No trip is complete without dropping by Sanyi Cypress, Xixi Stone Pavilion and Qiuxian Cave.
