Tips · China

Guangzhou airport to the city, and the train to Hong Kong

With T1 closed, how to get from Guangzhou Baiyun T2 and T3 into the city by metro, intercity rail, bus or taxi, plus Hong Kong high-speed rail tips.

Zhenhai Tower, the five-storey Ming-dynasty gate tower on Yuexiu Hill.
Zhenhai Tower, Yuexiu Park · Photo: ScareCriterion12 / CC BY-SA 4.0

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First, check whether you land at T2 or T3

Terminal 1 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) closed for renovation on 7 May 2026, so Airport South (机场南) metro station is temporarily out of use.

Check your terminal (T2 or T3) on your ticket. If you go to the wrong one, call the airport hotline 020-96158. The T2-T3 shuttle bus (about 25 minutes) is for transfer passengers only.

There are four ways into the city: metro, intercity rail, airport bus, and taxi or ride-hailing. Where you board depends on the terminal, as below.

Metro: straight from T2, by connecting bus from T3

T2 is linked to Airport North (机场北) station on Metro Line 3.

To or from T3, use the 'Konggang Line 2 Branch' (空港2线支线) connecting bus from Exit B of Gaozeng (高增) station on Line 3 or Line 9. It takes about 12-15 minutes, runs every 5-10 minutes and costs CNY 2; the Yangchengtong card is accepted.

Check Guangzhou Metro's official information for hours and fares. You can also ride with a QR code in the 'Guangzhou Metro' (广州地铁) app.

Intercity rail: board right under T3

Baiyun Airport East (白云机场东) station on the Guangzhou East Ring Intercity is on level B2 of the T3 transport centre, a 3-5 minute walk from T3. For T2, the station is Baiyun Airport North.

You can transfer to the metro at stations such as Guangzhou South, Pazhou, Keyun Road, Longdong, Zhuliao and Airport North. Trains run on average every 14 minutes; check 'Guangdong Intercity' (广东城际) official information for timetables and fares.

Airport buses, taxis and ride-hailing

Eight city routes run from T3 to eight districts, including Tianhe, Yuexiu, Haizhu, Panyu, Zengcheng Xintang, Nansha, Huangpu and Liwan, with no transfer needed. Fares start at CNY 19.9. Check routes and timetables on the official WeChat account '白云机场空港快线'.

Taxis run 24 hours from Door 75 on the T3 arrivals level. Ride-hailing pick-up points are on levels 2 and 1M of the P12 car park building. Taxis are metered and handy with heavy luggage or late arrivals; have your hotel address in Chinese.

High-speed rail to Hong Kong: stations, passports and timing

Short-haul high-speed trains link Hong Kong West Kowloon station with Guangzhounan, Guangzhoudong and Guangzhouxintang. The first and last trains leave West Kowloon at around 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Tickets are sold under your real name with a passport. Fares vary by train and class, so check the official fare charts.

At West Kowloon, real-name checks, security and immigration open 90 minutes before departure and usually take 30-45 minutes. Real-name and ticket checks close 30 minutes before departure, so allow extra time.

Half-day city route: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island, Pearl River at night

With half a day to spare, head to Liwan. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (Guangdong Folk Arts Museum) is close to Chen Clan Academy station on Lines 1 and 8 and opens 9:00-17:30. Ticket sales and entry stop at 17:00, so go in the morning rather than late afternoon. Entry is CNY 10 (per the Guangzhou culture and tourism bureau's January 2025 table; actual price as charged on site).

Have morning tea and dim sum around Longjin Road near the hall, then stroll Shamian Island in the afternoon, a small island with 150-plus European-style buildings and 137 ancient trees, 100 to over 300 years old.

In the evening, take a Pearl River night cruise from Tianzi Pier to see Canton Tower lit up. Check the operator's official information for piers, times and fares.

The central garden on Shamian Island with old trees and European-style buildings.
Central garden, Shamian Island · Photo: Zhangzhugang / CC BY-SA 4.0

Checklist before you go

Some foreign apps and services may be restricted in China, so sort out your connection (roaming, eSIM, etc.) and a Chinese map app before you go. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you travel and carry a little cash too.

Visa rules, including visa-free entry, change often. Check the latest rules with the Chinese embassy before you travel.

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FAQ

Is Guangzhou airport's T1 open?

No. T1 closed for renovation on 7 May 2026, and Airport South metro station is temporarily out of use. Check your terminal (T2 or T3) on your ticket.

How do I get to the metro from T3?

Take the 'Konggang Line 2 Branch' connecting bus to Exit B of Gaozeng station on Lines 3 and 9: about 12-15 minutes, every 5-10 minutes, CNY 2. You can also take the intercity rail from Baiyun Airport East station on level B2 at T3 and change to the metro.

Which Guangzhou stations have trains to Hong Kong?

Short-haul high-speed trains run between Guangzhounan, Guangzhoudong and Guangzhouxintang and Hong Kong West Kowloon. Tickets are sold under your real name with a passport; check the official fare charts.

How early should I get to West Kowloon station?

Real-name checks, security and immigration open 90 minutes before departure and usually take 30-45 minutes. Real-name and ticket checks close 30 minutes before departure.

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