Beijing Getting There

Beijing's Capital International Airport (PEK) is China's largest and busiest, serving an extensive network of domestic and international routes. Opened in March 2008, the $2 billion, Norman Foster-designed Terminal Three will boost annual capacity to around 55 million passengers by 2015.

Air China flies nonstop from LAX, United and Air China nonstop from New York, United nonstop from Chicago, and Continental nonstop from Newark. Several airlines offer connecting flights via Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. U.S. Airways will begin a daily Philadelphia-Beijing service in March 2009.

13.5 hours from New York; 12 hours 45 mins from Los Angeles (plus 2-4 hours for layovers and connections).