Short answer
Baiyun International Airport sits 28km north of the centre, and Metro Line 3 is the default way in: Airport North station serves Terminal 2, and trains reach Zhujiang New Town in roughly 50 to 60 minutes for ¥7–¥10.
Two 2026 changes catch visitors out. Terminal 1 closed for passenger operations on 7 May 2026, so Airport South no longer serves it, and Terminal 3 is not on the Line 3 metro alignment — it connects by shuttle from Gaozeng or through the Baiyun Airport East intercity station. Check your terminal on the airline's own notice.
Guangzhou has four railway stations in regular use, in different districts. Guangzhou South is the high-speed hub for Hong Kong, Shenzhen and most long-distance trains, and the names are not interchangeable.
Which terminal, and how it connects
Baiyun Airport is a three-terminal airport in the middle of a reshuffle. The airline notice on arrival is the only version to trust.
| Terminal | Rail connection | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Airport South on Line 3 is closed | Closed to passengers since 7 May 2026, with airlines moved to Terminal 3. Trains pass through Airport South without stopping. |
| Terminal 2 | Airport North, Line 3 | The simple case. Trains toward Tiyu Xilu continue through Zhujiang New Town, so you reach the downtown axis without changing. |
| Terminal 3 | Shuttle from Gaozeng (Line 3 and Line 9), or Baiyun Airport East intercity station | Not on the Line 3 alignment. The shuttle adds a step and time, so leave a bigger buffer. |
Metro Line 3 into the city, step by step
- Find the metro sign in arrivalsAirport North and the Gaozeng shuttle are both signed in English. Every route out of the airport funnels to the same pair of options.
- Decide how you will paySince October 2025 the gates accept contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB at every station. Tap the same card in and out. Alipay and WeChat QR codes work too, after passport verification at home.
- Read the destination boardLine 3 runs several service patterns on the same tracks, and some trains from Airport North terminate at Tiyu Xilu. A train that stops early is normal; change there.
- Ride to Zhujiang New Town, then change if neededRoughly 50 to 60 minutes from the airport. Continue south for Canton Tower, or change to Line 1 or Line 2 for the old city. Airport to Guangzhou South is
¥10.
First trains leave around 06:00 and the last from Airport North goes before midnight, but the time shifts with the service pattern and the direction. Read the board at the station. A landing after the last train means a taxi or an airport hotel.
Taxi and ride-hailing from the airport
Taxis queue at a signed rank outside arrivals and run on the meter: roughly 45 to 90 minutes to the central districts depending on the hour. As a reference fare, the airport to Guangzhou South runs around ¥150 and takes one to one and a half hours.
Ride-hailing works on the same roads and is usually cheaper. DiDi is built into Alipay, the price is fixed before you confirm, and the pickup zone is signposted — follow the map pin in the app, not a phone call from the driver.
Arriving by train: which station is which
The names are not interchangeable, so check this table against your ticket.
| Station | Metro lines | Journey to the centre | Serves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou South | Line 2, Line 7, Line 22, Foshan Line 2 | About 40 minutes, ¥2–¥7. Taxi roughly 30 to 50 minutes, ¥50–¥150. |
The high-speed hub: Hong Kong West Kowloon, Shenzhen, and most long-distance G trains |
| Guangzhou East | Line 1 and Line 3, with the Line 11 loop passing through | Ten to fifteen minutes to Zhujiang New Town on Line 3 | Intercity services toward Shenzhen and the eastern corridor |
| Guangzhou Station | Line 2 and Line 5 | Around 25 minutes to the centre on Line 2 | Conventional and overnight trains |
| Guangzhou North | Line 9 | It sits in Huadu, far north | Few services; usually not the one you booked |
Two practical details. Guangzhou South is enormous, and exits H and B serve different halves of the train, so check the gate number first. High-speed rail security works like an airport check, so arrive 45 minutes before departure, not ten.
Times and costs at a glance
| Journey | Mode | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport (T2) to Zhujiang New Town | Metro Line 3 | 50–60 min | ¥7–¥10 |
| Airport to Guangzhou South | Metro, one or two changes | Around 2 hours | ¥10 |
| Airport to Guangzhou South | Taxi | 1–1.5 hours | Around ¥150 |
| Guangzhou South to the centre | Metro Line 2, 7 or 22 | About 40 min | ¥2–¥7 |
| Guangzhou East to Zhujiang New Town | Metro Line 3 | 10–15 min | ¥2–¥4 |
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Booking with the wrong station in mind. Land at Baiyun, train from Guangzhou South, and a two-hour cross-city move comes first.
- Planning around Airport South. It has been closed to passengers since May 2026.
- Treating Terminal 3 as a normal metro arrival. The shuttle step needs a longer buffer to make a train.
- Arriving at rush hour with luggage. Line 3 meets the commuter flow at Yantang and Tiyu Xilu from about 07:30 to 09:30.
- Forgetting the arrival day is a travel day. The two-day plan assumes you are checked in by then.
- Choosing a hotel before you know your arrival point. The Guangzhou travel guide covers which district suits which trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which metro station serves Baiyun Airport Terminal 2?
Airport North on Line 3. Trains toward Tiyu Xilu continue through Zhujiang New Town, so check the destination board.
How do I reach Terminal 3 by public transport?
Terminal 3 is not on the Line 3 alignment. Guidance points to the shuttle from Gaozeng (Line 3 and Line 9) or the Baiyun Airport East intercity station. Confirm it with the airport before you travel.
Is there an airport express train to the city?
Not in the sense most visitors expect. The metro is the rail link into town: Line 3 from Airport North, 50 to 60 minutes for ¥7–¥10. Check any intercity timetable with the rail operator.
How much is a taxi from the airport?
Use the official rank and the meter. As a reference, the airport to Guangzhou South runs about ¥150. A flat quote from someone inside the terminal is not a price.
How long does the metro take from the airport to central Guangzhou?
Roughly 50 to 60 minutes to Zhujiang New Town, and 60 to 70 minutes into the old city districts with a change. Add time for the security check.
Which railway station does my train use?
Check the ticket. Guangzhou South is the high-speed hub for Hong Kong, Shenzhen and long-distance G trains. Guangzhou East, Guangzhou Station and Guangzhou North serve different lines in different districts.
Can I tap a foreign bank card on the Guangzhou metro?
Yes. Since October 2025 every station accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB, alongside UnionPay. Tap the same card in and out; Alipay and WeChat QR codes also work.
How much time should I allow between landing and a train from Guangzhou South?
At least three hours. Immigration and baggage can take an hour, the metro across the city around two hours with a change, and rail security another chunk.
Related reading
Compiled from the metro operator's fare and payment notices, Guangzhou municipal transport guidance on the Baiyun Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 arrangements, and railway station transport information, cross-checked 29 September 2026. Terminal assignments, shuttle arrangements and first-and-last-train times change with ongoing airport works, so the airport's own transfer notice and the station boards are the authoritative version. Nothing on this page is financial or legal advice.