Flying from San Jose to Beijing: what you need to know
San Jose's main base, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), is where countless incredible trips begin. Explore the options for leaving from here when booking your flight from San Jose to Beijing.
Step off your plane in Beijing at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Beijing's timezone is UTC+8, which makes Beijing 15 hours ahead of San Jose.
To ensure you get on your San Jose to Beijing flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule to follow.
You can expect bigger queues in popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Jose to Beijing
Don't leave everything to the last minute. You're more likely to get cheap San Jose to Beijing flights if you book ahead. Airlines often offer some fantastic early bird deals.
The 'Whole month' tool will show you the cheapest plane tickets from San Jose to Beijing throughout the entire month. It's a good way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates are flexible.
Save time looking for cheap flights from San Jose to Beijing by creating a Price Alert. You'll get an email or notification on the app when a special offer becomes available.
Find a cheap San Jose to Beijing flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from San Jose
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Finding a stopover on your San Jose to Beijing flight is easy. Whether you want to potentially save money on your fare or discover a new city, just uncheck 'Direct flights only' to check out your options. A popular stop when departing from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The journey from central San Jose to SJC takes around 45 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a cab, you'll cover the 5 kilometres in 10 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Catching an early flight from San Jose to Beijing? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport:
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport earns top marks for on-time performance. 84.69% of flights that take off from SJC land on time.
SJC is located at 1701 Airport Boulevard, Suite B-1130.
Arriving in Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to central Beijing takes about 40 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 26 kilometres away.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from San Jose to Beijing. Reserve one of these accommodation options near PEK instead:
Pick up a Beijing Capital International Airport rental car and discover parts of Beijing that most visitors tend to miss. You can book your wheels with Hertz.
To lock in the best rate, reserve your ride from Beijing Capital International Airport at least a couple of weeks in advance. Prices typically go up closer to the day of travel.
The address for PEK is Capital Airport Rd.
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Central Beijing is approximately 40 kilometres from Daxing International Airport (PKX). After your flight from San Jose to Beijing has touched down and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should take about 1 hour 5 minutes.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel near PKX. Here are a few options where you can kick back after your flight from San Jose to Beijing:
Best time to go to Beijing
February is the quietest month for flights from San Jose to Beijing, while April is the most popular. Pick the ideal time to visit Beijing based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Lock in a San Jose to Beijing ticket departing in July if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Beijing to range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 35ºC (95ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from San Jose to Beijing in January when temperatures average between -11ºC (12ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF).
More about Beijing
After booking your flight from San Jose to Beijing, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Beijing:
Every great journey has to include some sightseeing. Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square are attractions you won't want to skip in Beijing.
Explore more of China
You've done Beijing, now it's time to explore other parts of China. Travel about 113 kilometres south-east to Tianjin to tick off its leading sights. From Ancient Culture Street to Porcelain house and Haihe River, there's plenty to keep you busy.
Around 418 kilometres south of Beijing, Tai'an is another favourite stop in China. No visit is complete without checking out Sanyi Cypress, Xixi Stone Pavilion and Qiuxian Cave.