Guangzhou is the transportation hub of southern China. Guangzhou now has airlines operating there that connect it to over 40 countries and regions, as well as flights and trains to all parts of China. Guangzhou's highway system, water transportation system, and city transportation are also well developed.
- Guangzhou - Shenzhen transportation
- Guangzhou - Hong Kong Transportation
- Guangzhou - Zhuhai - Macau Transportation
- How to Travel from Guangzhou to Zhangjiajie
Air
Air transport: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport is about 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) from the Guangzhou urban area. In China, the passenger traffic through Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport ranks in the top three of all airports.
Guangzhou Airport Transfer, from $33 p/pBesides airlines to every part of China, there are over 130 international airlines that link Guangzhou with over sea cities like Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Sydney, Melbourne, Osaka, Tokyo, Paris, Seoul and important cities of South and Southeast Asian countries (including Vietnam, Laos, Burma, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia).
It takes about 40 minutes taking a taxi from downtown to the airport, and the fare is about 120 yuan. Metro Line 3 (North Extension) also connects to the airport.
Airport transfer tip: Guangzhou is an important transfer point during a journey in China or to nearby countries. Travelers flying to Guangzhou may have a half-day or 1-day layover before boarding their next flight. You can check out how to spend this half day or one day in Guangzhou.
Trains
There are 4 passenger railway stations in Guangzhou:
Guangzhou Railway Station
Guangzhou Railway Station has mostly normal-speed trains in service to Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Lhasa, and some other cities in China. There are also intercity trains to Shenzhen.
Guangzhou South Railway Station
Guangzhou South Railway Station has bullet trains and high-speed trains in service to Chinese cities including Hong Kong, Guilin, and Chengdu, among others. There are also intercity rail lines to Shenzhen and Zhuhai.
Guangzhou East Railway Station
Guangzhou East Railway Station offering more convenient bullet train access to central Guangzhou from Shenzhen.
Guangzhou North Railway Station
This station has high-speed trains in service to Shenzhen and Shanghai, as well as a few more important cities in China.
City Transportation
Subway
Guangzhou metro trainGuangzhou's subway network covers much of the city. The ticket prices range from 2 to 14 yuan. Currently, lines 1, 2, 3, and 5 are the most useful to tourists because these lines connect major transportation hubs, famous attractions, shopping places, and Guangzhou's CBD.
There is also an intercity metro line connecting Guangzhou and Foshan.
Check out everything you need to know about Guangzhou Metro, including ticketing, ticket fares, useful lines, and so on.
Buses
In Guangzhou, there are over 13,000 buses, which run on over 1,200 routes. The ticket fare for bus routes in urban areas is generally 2 yuan per ride. For passengers' convenience, Guangzhou also has night buses marked with the prefix '夜'.
There are English signboards at bus stops and the broadcasts on the buses will be in Chinese, Cantonese, and English. However, the multifarious bus lines and the hard to understand stop names could still be a challenge if you can't read Chinese.
Taxis
Guangzhou taxiAt present, Guangzhou has about 30,000 taxis operated by different companies, but demand is huge particularly during peak hours from 7:30 am to 9 am and during lunch and dinner. So, you might have difficulty hailing a taxi during rush hours.
Make sure they turn on the meter and carry and give only small change/bills to avoid counterfeits.
Fares: The flag-down fare is 12 yuan for the first 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) and 2.6 yuan is charged for each additional kilometer (0.6 mile). After 25 Kilometers, a 50% surcharge is added automatically. Another 30% surcharge is added between 23:00 and 05:00.
You might consider hiring a private driver for convenience and enjoyment (the line for cabs at the airport often is over 45 minutes) and if you are planning to go to several places or need to ride for an extended time. Information is below. See more about Taxis in China.
Ship
Guangzhou is located beside the Pearl River, and it is one of the most famous port cities in China. The Pearl River is the second largest navigable river in China. Passengers can take ships to Hong Kong, Macau and Haikou.
There are many ports in Guangzhou including Humen Port, Xinsha Port, Huangpu Port, Nansha Port and many other ports. The ship routes link Guangzhou to hundreds of ports including domestic ports and foreign ports. Most of these ports are cargo ports.
However, three ports provide passenger transport: 1) Panyu Lotus Mountain Port provides high speed passenger liners to Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal in Hong Kong daily, 2) Huangpu Port offers ships to Xiuying Port in Haikou, 3) Nansha Port operates ships to Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal in Macau.
Jetfoil
The five-star Premier Jetfoil with exclusive and luxurious services of superb quality comes and goes between Macau, Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Shenzhen Shekou Port, and Guangzhou Nansha Port.
The newest five-star Premier Jetfoil is equipped with the latest LED lighting system, a top-quality onboard entertainment system, a VIP cabin that comes with a self-controlled air conditioning and lighting system and free Wi-Fi service.
Coach/Bus
There is a developed highway system in Guangzhou. Now, there are about 20 big long-distance bus stations providing coach services to different cities and counties in and out of Guangdong Province.
However, a lack of English services could be a problem for foreign travelers. For most occasions, taking a train, the metro, or using a private transfer service are better options.
Touring Guangzhou with China Highlights
China Highlights' private transport serviceIf the Guangzhou public transport doesn't sound like the way you would like to tour Guangzhou, see our Guangzhou tours, which can include private transport from/to your hotel. You can tailor make your own Guangzhou experience with our help tailor make your tour>>
A Better Local Transport Option: Private Transfers
Hiring a private driver might be the best option if you want to do a lot of touring or business in Guangzhou. A private driver or aid from an English speaking guide/interpreter is relatively inexpensive compared to Western countries and Japan. It is the most convenient and pleasant way to travel.
With our Guangzhou private airport/station/hotel transfer service, our English-speaking driver will wait for you, and get where you need to go, without any of the hassles of taxis, or public transport. Our vehicles are more comfortable than most taxis.