my son is flying here for new year and has a cheap flight but has a 10 hr stop in Beijing. does anyone know, is there a cheap hotel you can check into without having to go though immigration (i assume you can't do that without a visa, maybe you can?)

thx

I have read elsewhere that there are transit rooms airside at PEK Terminal 3. Never used them but they should be there.

There does appear to be "hourly lounges" within the airport, but no price is given:

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia/beijing.htm

Your son would definitely need a visa for China, obtained before leaving on his flight, to stay at a hotel near the airport. Try some additional google searches, you might be able to find more concrete info.

Hope this info. helps!

Check here - http://www.oneworld.com/airports-destinations/visa-health-information/

I have read it, assuming US citizen, it appears you can transit up to 24hours without a visa, as long as you have an onward ticket.

Check with the airline is also another option.

Check with your airline for the most accurate answer in terms of his being able to leave the transit area based on his ticket and regulations.

With only 8-hours, you may just want to consider this http://en.bcia.com.cn/server/service/lounge.shtml (see pricing and booking here http://en.bcia-shopping.com/store/844.html)

Don't take me or anyone else's words about this unless they have just recently done it but ... As best I am aware a transit visa is not needed if he is from the US but a transit visa doesn't allow you to leave the airport and instead he would have to get what I believe is called a temporary landing permit and it may be available at some airports / cities in China and not others.

But again, 8-hours is not a lot of time to deal with the hassles of leaving and returning and their might even be issues with any checked bags and which the airline could also tell you about.

No visa required and you may find a suitable hotel within this link:- http://hotels.english.ctrip.com/list?city=1&checkin=09-24-2012&checkout=09-25-2012&district=44&sort=price0

"(4) Foreigners who have confirmed onward tickets and seats on international flights and directly transit through China and stay for no more than 24 hours within the airport boundaries do not need to apply for a transit visa."

No visa required and you may find a suitable hotel within this link:- http://hotels.englis...=44&sort=price0

"(4) Foreigners who have confirmed onward tickets and seats on international flights and directly transit through China and stay for no more than 24 hours within the airport boundaries do not need to apply for a transit visa."

A transit visa is not needed but he will only be able to stay in the airport even if he had a transit visa. A transit visa allows you to simply change flights within the international area (no passing immigration) but being from the US and having an onward ticket leaving within 24-hours, he doesn't need this. He would need a temporary landing visa to leave the airport and use the hotels on the link you provided.

China is not a country which you want to go by stuff you read on the internet and why I recommended contacting the airline or speaking with somebody who recently did something similar and at the same airport as the rules change at different ones.