Guangzhou East Railway Station

The Guangzhou East Station is a bustling transportation hub, accommodating both regular and high-speed train services. Renowned for its strategic location in the Tianhe Central Business District, this station attracts a significant number of tourists and foreign travelers. With its convenient high-speed line to Shenzhen and its role as a junction for two main subway lines, the Guangzhou East Station holds great importance for commuters and visitors alike.

Tourists and business people from Hong Kong frequently rely on the Guangzhou East Station as their entry point, accessing it via the Luohu Border Port. These travelers opt for the high-speed train services available at the Shenzhen Station, allowing them to easily navigate the city or make connections to the airport and other train stations via the metro system.

The Guangzhou East Station's popularity stems from its central location within the Tianhe Central Business District, a bustling hub of economic activity. Situated in the heart of Guangzhou, this district serves as a vital commercial center, attracting numerous business professionals and ensuring a constant influx of visitors to the station.

Additionally, the station's accessibility to the high-speed line leading to Shenzhen offers a convenient travel option for both leisure and business travelers. The high-speed train service not only provides a swift journey between Guangzhou and Shenzhen, but it also offers a comfortable and efficient means of transportation for those continuing their journeys to other destinations.

Moreover, the Guangzhou East Station serves as a major metro hub, connecting four crucial subway lines. This integration within the metro network enhances the station's significance as a transport interchange, allowing travelers to seamlessly navigate Guangzhou and reach their desired destinations with ease.

Guangzhou East Railway Station

• Chinese: 广州东站 Gǔangzhōu Dōng Zhàn /gwung joh dong jan/
• Name on train tickets: 广州东
• Address: 1 Dongzhan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong 广州市天河区东站路1号
• Location: 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Baiyun International Airport.
• Metro: Line 1, Line 3, Line 11, or line 18 to Guangzhou East Metro Station (广州东站地铁站).
• Station size: 7 platforms and 14 railway lines

See our expandable Guangzhou Railway and Train Station City Map for a bigger responsive station map.

Popular Trains to Other Cities

Street map of Guangzhou East's location in Tianhe

See the popular train travel routes (departing from Guangzhou East Station) below to get some travel ideas for planning trips in China:

High-Speed Guangzhou–Shenzhen Route 广深铁路

Bullet trains: Of Guangzhou's four bullet train stations, its high-speed trains are the best for quick access to/from the Tianhe and central Guangzhou area and southern Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

• Hours/price to Shenzhen Station: 深圳站, about an hour and 30 minutes, about USD11 (CNY 75) (2nd class), USD14 (CNY 99 ) (1st class).
• Length to Guangzhou Station: about 137 km
• Design speed: 250 kph (155 mph)
• Main stops: Guangzhou Station, Guangzhou East Station, Dongguan South Station, Shenzhen North Station.

A second class car of a D train like that on the high-speed train to Dongguan and Shenzhen

The fast train to Luohu, Shenzhen is the busiest route by far and one of the busiest in the whole country.

Frequent: There are about 50 high-speed trains running daily to Shenzhen Railway Station from 06:00 to 22:31. There is a train every 15 to 30 minutes, and it takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes.

Efficient between Hong Kong/Shenzhen and Guangzhou: Considering the speed, convenience, flexibility, and ticket prices, taking a high-speed train to the Luohu border crossing can be the most efficient and comfortable way for a tourist to go to Hong Kong and southern Shenzhen at present. The trains leave as frequently as every 8 minutes during rush hours.

More central: The city's other bullet train line to Shenzhen starts at Guangzhou South that is on the outskirts of the city and not in the central city area most tourists and travelers go to. That line doesn't go to the Hong Kong border, but the trains go to Futian Station and Shenzhen North Station.

Conventional and Cross Border Trains

There are ordinary trains to Meizhou, Shantou, Xiamen, Beijing, Harbin, Changchun, Chengdu and other cities. By transfering, tourists can go to hundreds of cities.

Cross border: It is also a terminal station for the Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train and one of the stops of the Beijing-Kowloon Through Train. It will be made somewhat obsolete by about 2018 if the Beijing to Kowloon bullet train is finished.

• Cross Border Guangzhou East - Hong Kong West Kowloon Station 西九龙站, Hong Kong G trains, 1 hour 40 minutes to cover 182 kilometers, second class USD 32 (CNY 215)/frist class USD 51 (CNY 344)See Guangzhou to Hong Kong Through Trains
• Conventional Guangzhou East - Changsha 长沙 T-class trains, about 8 hours, 29 dollars USD hard bed
• Conventional Guangzhou East - Wuchang 武昌 (in Wuhan 武汉) Z-class direct trains, about 11 to 11 and a half hours, 40 dollars USD hard bed

Note about the train classes: The recommended trains from this station are mainly the D-class fast trains and the T-class (regular) and Z-class (direct) trains. The D-class (also called C for this route, meaning intercity) travel at about 250 kph. The Z, T, and K trains travel at 160 kph, 140 kph, and 120 kph (75 mph) respectively. However, the K trains are often dirty, stop more often and for longer periods, and theft is a problem.

Using Guangzhou East Station

Canton Fair access from Guangzhou East. Click to enlarge it

There is a lack of English signage, and the station sprawls, so add about 15 minutes extra travel time for orientation if you are using this station for the first time. There are English-speaking staff readily available to help foreigners.

Arrive Early

Conventional trains: It is recommended that you arrive at the station about an hour before departure time if you have tickets and about two hours before if you intend to get a ticket there since waiting in line might take an hour on busy days.

Bullet train: Taking a bullet train is easier. When it isn't busy, be there about half an hour before your departure if you already have a ticket and if you feel it is important to get on the exact train, or just wait the 5 to 18 minutes for the next one. When it isn't busy, there are no lines.

Safety: Keep your luggage and bags closed and close to you. In both the crowds in the station and on the regular trains, pickpocketing is a problem.

See How to Get On/Off a Train and 7 Things to Know Before Riding a Train for more.

Transportation - to/from Guangzhou East

Generally, unless you know the city bus routes, the best way to go to and from the station is by taxi or subway. Otherwise, if you are unused to riding Chinese buses, you could get on the wrong bus or miss your stop. Guangzhou has four train stations. Be sure about which one you are going to and explain to your driver clearly about which station you are going to.

Distances: Guangzhou East Station is in Tianhe District and is 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Guangzhou Railway Station, 26 kilometers (16 miles) from the South Railway Station, 40 kilometers (21 miles) from the North Railway Station, and 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Baiyun International Airport. Zhujiang New Town is 2 miles directly south.

Taxis

It is best to catch taxis at the main exits near at the front square. There are people all around the area on the look-out for unsuspecting non-Chinese travelers offering rides, baggage handling, etc, and they may do crimes like giving counterfeit money or scams. Also, they will probably charge you much more than do these in the plaza.

Legit taxis will generally pull up to the door in this designated taxi area where there may also be police and/or guards watching.

• Chinese: 请送我到广州东站. Qǐng sòng wǒ dào Guǎngzhōu Dōng Zhàn.
• English: Please drive me to Guangzhou East Station.

Taxi fares:

• To/from Guangzhou Train Station: 25 minutes, CNY 30
• To/from Guangzhou South Train Station: 40 minutes, CNY 75
• To/from Baiyun Airport: about 60 minutes, CNY 125.
• To/from Canton Trade Fair venue: 25 minutes, CNY 30.

See more on Guangzhou taxis.

Subway to Shenzhen's Other Railway Stations

Click to enlarge it Guangzhou Metro map

To Guangzhou South Station (广州南站):

For other bullet train lines that go across the country, you could access the main bullet train hub at Guangzhou South (45 minutes, 7 RMB). Note that these lines get packed from about 7:30 am to 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

• Take Guangzhou Subway Line 1 and go 7 stops to Gongyuanqian Station (公园前站)
• and then transfer to the Guangzhou Subway Line 2 going south 11 stops to Guangzhou South Station.

To Guangzhou Station (广州站):

This station is only about 10 kilometers away, and it would seem that going by subway is quick and fast, but it isn't. Journey time by metro is about 40 minutes (4 RMB). Taking the taxi is faster and less stressful.

• Take the Guangzhou Subway Line 2 going south 3 stops to Gongyuanqian Station (公园前站).
• then transfer to Guangzhou Subway Line 1 and go 7 stops to Guangzhou East Station.

To Baiyun International Airport

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云机场) has very convenient and direct transport (33 minutes, CNY 7):

• Take Subway Line 3 11 stops to the end station on the line: Airport South Station (机场南站). It is under the airport.
• Or take the bus: Airport Express Bus

To Hong Kong

Just take the bullet train. The journey time is approximately 70 minutes, and when you get out onto Shenzhen Station's main plaza, walk south 100 meters to the Luohu / Lo Wu Border Crossing entrance. The East Rail Line at Lo Wu Station on the Hong Kong side is especially convenient for metro travel around Hong Kong. See Border Crossings in Shenzhen/Hong Kong>>

Metro Lines 1 and 3 to the Main Attractions

Chen Ancestral Academy

To Zhujiang New City: The subway station next to the CTF Finance Tower and the Guangzhou IFC Tower that are two of the tallest in the world.

• Take Subway Line 3 south to Zhujiang New City Station (Chinese: 珠江新城站, 3 stops)

To Chen Ancestral Shrine:

• Take metro Line 1 directly to Chen Ancestral Shrine Station (陈家祠站, 9 stops).

City Buses

Bus

• To/from Guangzhou East Railway Station (广州东站): B19, 41, 43, 45, 122, 122-A, 175, 183, 185, 195, 209, 214, 233, 256, 280, 283, 302, 302-A, 501, 508, 515, 551, 15 night bus, 17 night bus, 28 night bus, 78 night bus
• To/from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场): Airport Express Bus

Booking Tickets

You could book tickets in the station, at the other train stations, or at many other ticket selling locations in the city. Be clear about which train station you want to use. Foreigners who don't speak Chinese or are unfamiliar with the process might prefer using a tour agency. You'll need your passport. See How to Buy Tickets in China>>

Station's Ticket Offices (售票处)

High-speed train counters: Past Gate 1 on the first floor, you'll find the ticket counters and automated ticket machines. There may be even a fifteen minute line during rush hours. It is one of the heaviest used intercity routes, but with trains leaving every few minutes during rush hours, waiting is minimal.

Conventional train ticket counters: Passengers taking slow trains should go to the ticket counters on the second floor or on the far end of the station building.

• Chinese: 请问, 火车售票处在哪里? Qǐngwèn, huǒchē shòupiàochù zài nǎlǐ?
• English: Excuse me. Where are the ticket counters?

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