Liquor and cosmetics hub in PEK T3, open 09:00–17:30
Sunrise Duty Free in Terminal T3 is the main duty-free operator airside, and flyers point here when they want the biggest liquor and cosmetics shelves in the terminal instead of hopping between single-brand boutiques. It sits after security in the T3 international area, so you shop with boarding pass in hand and prices already tax-free.
Hours are tight: 09:00–17:30 daily, and several reviewers mention sprinting through Sunrise before the shutters came down for evening departures. After 17:30, only one or two smaller duty-free units stay open in T3, and those don’t match Sunrise’s range for spirits, skincare, or makeup.
Expect standard duty-free pricing on major whisky and cognac labels, plus the usual Absolut and Johnnie Walker gift boxes, rather than deep discount warehouse deals. Cosmetics skew toward big Asian and European brands; think full counters for skincare sets and fragrance rather than random minis. Cigarettes and basic souvenirs sit on the edges of the store, but liquor and beauty clearly get most of the shelf space.
Regulars with late-night flights out of PEK T3 often buy alcohol and cosmetics in the city or at their origin airport instead, then just do a quick walk-through of Sunrise for any last small gifts before that 17:30 cutoff. Tip: if your boarding pass shows an evening departure, plan to hit Sunrise right after clearing T3 security instead of waiting at the gate and watching the shutters roll down.