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Guangzhou Baiyun Airport now works differently from what older guides say. Terminal 1 has closed for renovation, so you'll arrive at Terminal 2 or the newer Terminal 3. From Terminal 2, Metro Line 3 starts right under the building at Airport North and runs to Guangzhou East Railway Station and Tiyu Xilu in Tianhe. From Terminal 3, take the intercity train from Baiyun Airport East station in the terminal's transport centre, or the free shuttle bus to Gaozeng and Metro Line 3 or 9. By high-speed train you'll most likely arrive at Guangzhou South, far south of the centre, where Line 2 and Line 7 take you into the city. Check your terminal and station before you book a hotel transfer; it decides everything else.
Which terminal or station are you arriving at?
| You arrive at | Best rail link | Good for | Take a car instead when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Terminal 2 | Metro Line 3, Airport North (T2) | Tianhe, Guangzhou East, Tiyu Xilu | Late landing, heavy bags |
| Airport Terminal 3 | Intercity from Baiyun Airport East, or shuttle bus to Gaozeng then Line 3 or 9 | Pazhou, Guangzhou South (intercity); Tianhe (metro) | Late arrival, family with luggage |
| Guangzhou South Railway Station | Metro Lines 2 and 7 | Yuexiu (Line 2), Panyu and Haizhu | Hotel in Tianhe with a big suitcase |
| Guangzhou East Railway Station | Metro Lines 1 and 3 | Tianhe, Tiyu Xilu | Rarely needed |
| Guangzhou Railway Station | Metro Lines 2 and 5 | Yuexiu, Beijing Road | Rarely needed |
The airport is a long way north of the city. Whatever you choose, it's a long ride, so save your hotel's Chinese name and address on your phone before you land.
Terminal 1 has closed: what changed?
From 7 May 2026 the domestic airlines at Baiyun Terminal 1 moved to Terminal 3, and Terminal 1 closed to passengers for renovation; the Airport South metro station is temporarily not in use. Older blog posts, maps and even some airline emails still mention Terminal 1 and Airport South station. Ignore them: if your booking says T1, check the airline's current information, because the flight will almost certainly be at Terminal 3 now.
The practical upshot: Terminal 2 has the metro station under it, and Terminal 3 has the intercity station and a bus link to the metro. If you end up at the wrong terminal, the intercity line also links Baiyun Airport North (Terminal 2) and Baiyun Airport East (Terminal 3), and there's a free shuttle bus between the two terminals.
Terminal 2: Line 3 from Airport North
After arrivals, follow the metro signs to Airport North (Terminal 2) station, the end of the Line 3 northern branch. Trains go south through Jiahewangang and Guangzhou East Railway Station to Tiyu Xilu.
- Tianhe and Zhujiang New Town: stay on to Tiyu Xilu, then change to Line 3 toward Panyu or Line 1 if needed.
- Yuexiu, Beijing Road, Liwan: change at Jiahewangang or at Tiyu Xilu, depending on the line your hotel is near.
Terminal 3: intercity train or the free shuttle
Terminal 3 doesn't have its own metro station yet; the Guangzhou government's own guide lists only the intercity station and a metro feeder bus. You have two options from the transport centre:
- The intercity train from Baiyun Airport East. The station is on the lower level (B2) of the Terminal 3 transport centre, an indoor walk from arrivals. The Guangzhou East Ring intercity line stops at Longdong, Keyun Road, Pazhou and Guangzhou South, where you can change to the metro, which makes it the direct choice for the Canton Fair area and for onward high-speed trains. Buy the ticket like a train ticket, with your passport.
- The shuttle bus to Gaozeng, then the metro. The Airport Line 2 branch bus between Terminal 3 and Gaozeng metro station is free from 6 June 2026, runs every 5 minutes at peak and every 10 minutes off-peak, and takes about 15 minutes. At Gaozeng, change to Line 3 for Tianhe or Line 9.
There's a third route that Guangzhou locals on Rednote recommend more than either of these: take the free inter-terminal shuttle bus from the Terminal 3 transport centre to Terminal 2, then walk to Airport North station. Line 3 starts there, so you'll get a seat, which you won't at Gaozeng. The intercity train between Baiyun Airport East and Airport North does the same hop faster, but it runs to a timetable, so check the next departure on 12306 before you commit.
A few things Rednote posters keep warning about at Terminal 3:
- Bus bay numbers change. The shuttle and metro feeder bus stops in the transport centre have moved more than once. Follow the coloured floor arrows and overhead signs for the shuttle bus or the metro feeder bus rather than a bay number from an old post.
- The metro stops at night; the shuttle doesn't. The inter-terminal shuttle runs around the clock, but the metro has a last train, so on a late landing check the time before you rely on Line 3.
Ask at the transport centre if you're unsure which route is closer to your hotel; staff deal with this question all day.
Arriving at Guangzhou South by high-speed train
Most high-speed trains, including those from Shenzhen, Hong Kong West Kowloon, Changsha and Guilin, arrive at Guangzhou South. It's a huge station on the southern edge of the city. After the ticket gates, follow the metro signs down:
- Line 2 goes north to Guangzhou Railway Station via Gongyuanqian, which is the one for Beijing Road and Yuexiu.
- Line 7 goes east toward Panyu and Higher Education Mega Center.
- For Tianhe, take Line 2 and change, or take a car if you have heavy luggage.
The taxi rank and ride-hailing pick-up area at Guangzhou South are well signed, but on holiday evenings the queues are long. If you're three or four people with bags, a car to Tianhe saves you two changes.
Guangzhou East and Guangzhou Railway Station
Some trains, especially from Shenzhen and the east, arrive at Guangzhou East, which sits in Tianhe on Lines 1 and 3: for most Tianhe hotels you're already close. Guangzhou Railway Station, the old main station, is on Lines 2 and 5, among others, north of Yuexiu. The newer Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station also handles some long-distance trains; check your ticket for the station name.
When is a taxi or DiDi better?
Take a car if:
- you land at night, close to the end of metro service;
- you have children, older relatives or several big bags;
- you're three or four people sharing;
- your hotel is in Zhujiang New Town or by the river and the metro would mean two changes.
Use the official taxi rank or the marked ride-hailing pick-up area, never someone who approaches you in the hall. Show your hotel's Chinese address to the driver. The DiDi guide covers setting it up with a foreign phone number and card.
Before you land
Set up mobile data and payments first: the China eSIM comparison and the metro tickets and payments guide explain the Alipay metro code and foreign cards. If you're here for the fair, read the Canton Fair first-visit guide. The Guangzhou dim sum guide and the Guangzhou city guide cover what comes after.
