GuangzhouTransportation Guide

Guangzhou’s 16 subway lines provide comprehensive coverage. Starting in October 2025, international Visa and Mastercard holders can tap their cards directly to enter the station.Direct access to attractions: Line 1—Chen Clan Ancestral Hall Station; Lines 1/6—Huang Sha Station (5-minute walk to Shamian Island); Line 3—Guangzhou Tower Station; the APM Line—a driverless mini-metro running along Zhujiang New Town, which is quite fun. Line 3 goes directly to Baiyun Airport, and Line 2 goes to Guangzhou South Station.

Base fare: 12 yuan (3 km). Short trips within the city cost 20–35 yuan. A ride to Baiyun Airport costs 100–150 yuan (Metro Line 3 is more convenient). Traffic congestion is severe in the city center during peak hours, so the metro is a more reliable option. Using Didi is more transparent than hailing a cab on the street.

Baiyun International Airport (CAN): Take Metro Line 3 directly (about 45 minutes, 8 yuan). A taxi costs 100–150 yuan (about 50–80 minutes). The airport shuttle bus costs 20–30 yuan. The airport is about 30 kilometers from the city center; allow 2 hours for the trip.

Guangzhou has four high-speed rail stations. Guangzhou South Station: The largest, serving the Beijing–Guangzhou, Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong, and Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed rail lines; takes 40 minutes to reach the city center via Line 2. Guangzhou East Station: Serves the Guangzhou–Shenzhen Intercity Line; located in Tianhe District in the city center; takes 5 minutes to reach the city center via Lines 1 or 3. Guangzhou Station: Located in the city center. Guangzhou East Station in Tianhe District is the preferred choice. The high-speed train to Shenzhen takes 30 minutes to reach Shenzhen North Station.