Beijing to Houston (PEK–IAH) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Chinese passport holders require a B1/B2 visa for tourism or business travel to the United States. The visa is typically issued for 10 years with multiple entries, allowing stays of up to 180 days per visit. An in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate is required, and the application fee is US $185. Holders of 10-year B visas must also enroll in EVUS (Electronic Visa Update System) every two years before travel.

Airport Express train runs from Dongzhimen or Sanyuanqiao (Line 10) to the airport in 16–20 minutes (¥25). Trains run every 10 minutes from 6am to 11pm and connect directly to Terminals 2 and 3. This bypasses Beijing's severe road congestion reliably.Taxis from central Beijing (Dongcheng/Xicheng districts) cost ¥80–120 and take 40–90 minutes depending on traffic and time of day. Express buses (¥25–30) serve major city hubs. Note that PKX (Daxing) is Beijing's second international airport; confirm your terminal before traveling.

No direct rail from IAH. The METRO bus 102 (IAH Express) runs to downtown Houston's transit center (60–90 min, $1.25). Taxis to downtown Houston cost $50–70. Ride-hails pick up at the designated Rideshare zones outside baggage claim on the lower level.IAH has five terminals (A–E) connected by an underground tunnel with trams. Terminal D handles international arrivals. Rental car agencies are in a consolidated facility adjacent to Terminal C; a free IAH Connector bus runs between terminals and the rental car center. The Galleria / Uptown area costs $35–50 by ride-hail.

Humid subtropical climate. Hot, humid, and wet for much of the year. Summers are brutal (33–38°C) with high humidity and near-daily afternoon thunderstorms. Severe storms with hail and high winds regularly cause ground stops from April through September. Houston's flooding risk is significant. Heavy rain events, including tropical system remnants, have flooded airport roads, cutting off surface access even when the airport itself remains operational.

Winters are mild (5–18°C) with occasional ice storms. These are rare but highly disruptive when they occur. Hurricane season (June–November) requires monitoring for Gulf storms. October through March has the best flying weather.