Airport Code
Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN)
Terminal 1 & 2
Visa Exemption
144-Hour Transit Visa
Guangdong Wide
Payments
Alipay & WeChat Pay
Link Int'l Card
Subway Link
Metro Line 3
Direct Airport Link

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) Terminal Guide

Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2, Hourly Sleeping Pods & Baggage Storage

Airport Hub

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (IATA: CAN) is China's third-busiest aviation hub and the global home base of China Southern Airlines. The airport currently operates two massive passenger terminals: Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2).

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Terminal 1

Terminal 1 (T1)

Concourses A & B

Serves domestic and international flights for Hainan Airlines, Spring Airlines, Nine Air, and various Asian regional carriers.

  • Metro Station: Airport South Station (Airport S.) on Line 3
  • Luggage Storage: Departure Hall Level 3 (near Gate 16)
  • Hourly Sleeping Pods: "Mini Hotel" located on Level B1
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Terminal 2

Terminal 2 (T2)

China Southern Hub

State-of-the-art facility serving China Southern Airlines, SkyTeam partners (Air France, KLM), and major international legacy carriers.

  • Metro Station: Airport North Station (Airport N.) on Line 3
  • Luggage Storage: Departure Hall Level 3 (near Door 42)
  • Lounges: Plaza Premium Lounge & China Southern Pearl Lounge

Free Transfer Between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2

Transfer between T1 and T2 using the Free Airport Shuttle Bus (operating 24/7 every 5–15 minutes outside Gate 10 at T1 and Gate 42 at T2) or take Metro Line 3 for free between Airport South and Airport North stations (ask station staff for a free transfer token).

Guangzhou 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit (VFT) Guide

Explore Guangdong Province without a Chinese Visa during Layover

Visa-Free China

Travelers holding passports from 54 eligible countries (including US, Canada, EU nations, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea) can exit Guangzhou Baiyun Airport without a visa for up to 144 hours (6 days) if transit rules are met.

Crucial Rule: Country A → Guangzhou → Country C

Your itinerary must fly strictly through Guangzhou to a third international destination. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate international destinations from Mainland China!

Visa Free Transit Customs Desk
Rule 1

A-B-C Transit Route

You MUST fly from Country A → Guangzhou (CAN) → Country C. Country A and Country C must be different.

Rule 2

Confirmed Onward Ticket

Possess a confirmed seat reservation and physical/e-ticket departing China within 144 hours to a third country/region.

Rule 3

Guangdong Travel Zone

During your 144-hour stay, you are permitted to travel anywhere within Guangdong Province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan).

How to Apply for 144-Hour Visa-Free Permit at CAN Airport

  1. Follow airport signs for "24/144-Hour International Transit Area / Temporary Entry Permit" before standard immigration queues.
  2. Fill out the blue Temporary Entry Permit Application Form at the self-service kiosks.
  3. Present your passport (valid 3+ months), confirmed onward flight ticket to a third country/region, and hotel booking confirmation to the dedicated immigration officer.
  4. Once stamped with the 144-hour temporary entry permit, proceed through customs to claim baggage and enter Guangzhou!

China Digital Survival Pack: Payments, Maps & Translation

How to pay, navigate, and communicate in a cashless nation

Cashless China

Foreign credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are rarely swiped at local shops, street vendors, or taxis in Guangzhou. Paper cash is accepted by law but discouraged due to lack of change. Setting up mobile payment apps prior to departure is essential for your trip.

Alipay (International)

#1 App for Foreigners

Download Alipay before departure. Link your international Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card to pay via QR code across China.

Includes built-in Didi ride-hailing and Metro QR scanner.

WeChat Pay (Weixin)

Messaging & Payments

WeChat allows international card linking under WeChat Pay. Essential for restaurant table QR ordering and mini-programs.

Scan QR codes at restaurant tables to order dim sum.

Navigation & Translate

Amap, Baidu & Pleco

Google Maps is inaccurate and blocked in China. Use Apple Maps(works natively in English) or Amap (Gaode Ditu) for Metro routes.

Download Pleco & Google Translate (offline Chinese pack).
Internet Restrictions & eSIMs: Mainland China restricts access to Google services, WhatsApp, Instagram, and foreign news. Purchase a Travel eSIM with cellular data roaming (e.g., Airalo, Nomad, Holafly) before arriving. Cellular roaming bypasses China's internet firewall natively without requiring a VPN.

Airport-to-City Transit & Railway Stations

Metro Line 3, Didi Rides & Guangzhou Mega Railway Hubs

Public Transit

Metro Line 3

Connects CAN Airport (T1 & T2) to Guangzhou East Station and Zhujiang New Town in ~40 mins (fare ~7 CNY).

Taxis & Didi Rides

Official metered taxis or Didi (via Alipay) cost 100–150 CNY to downtown. Follow official taxi queue signs outside arrivals.

Guangzhou South Rail

China's busiest high-speed rail hub. Bullet trains depart directly to Hong Kong West Kowloon (45 mins) & Beijing.

Baiyun Railway Station

Asia's largest newly opened railway terminal, serving intercity and high-speed connections across southern China.

Traveling Between Guangzhou & Hong Kong

High-Speed Bullet Trains, Pazhou Ferry & Cross-Border Express Buses

Greater Bay Area

High-Speed Rail

Board at Guangzhou South or Guangzhou East Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon. Journey takes 45 to 60 minutes. Book tickets via Trip.com or 12306 app.

Pazhou High-Speed Ferry

Depart from Pazhou Ferry Terminal directly to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) SkyPier in 120 minutes. Includes airline luggage check-through & HK departure tax refund!

Cross-Border Coach

Direct express buses depart from major 5-star Guangzhou hotels (e.g., Garden Hotel) directly to Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Hong Kong Disneyland in ~3 hours.

Canton Fair & Business Traveler Logistics

China Import and Export Fair Complex (Pazhou Grounds)

Spring & Autumn Hub

The bi-annual Canton Fair (Pazhou Complex) in Haizhu District attracts over 200,000 international buyers every Spring (April/May) and Autumn (October/November).

Getting to Pazhou Complex

Take Metro Line 8 directly to Pazhou Station (Exits A, B, C) or Xingangdong Station (Exit A for Area A).

Hotels & Free Buyer Shuttles

Pre-register online for your Overseas Buyer Badge. Major hotels offer free complimentary shuttle busesstrong> directly to the fairgrounds.

Canton Fair Exhibition Hall

Must-Visit Districts & Iconic Sights

Skyscrapers & Historic Lingnan Architecture

City Exploration
Canton Tower Guangzhou
Tianhe District

Canton Tower & CBD

Guangzhou's modern financial center. Marvel at the 600m Canton Tower, Guangdong Museum, Zaha Hadid Opera House, and luxury Taikoo Hui mall.

Shamian Island Colonial Architecture
Liwan & Yuexiu

Shamian & Beijing Road

Explore European colonial architecture on Shamian Island, historic Lingnan arcade houses (Qilou) at Yong Qing Fang, and shopping at Beijing Road.

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
Cultural Sights

Chen Clan & Yuexiu Park

Exquisite Lingnan folk art with delicate wood and ceramic roof carvings. Yuexiu Park features the iconic Five Rams Sculpture symbol of the city.

Cantonese Food Culture & Yum Cha Etiquette

"Eating in Guangzhou" (食在广州)

Culinary Capital

Guangzhou is world-renowned as the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine. Traditional Cantonese cooking emphasizes fresh ingredients, delicate natural flavors, and slow steaming.

Dim Sum Har Gow

Har Gow & Siu Mai

Steamed translucent shrimp dumplings and pork/prawn dumplings served in bamboo baskets.

Cheung Fun Rice Noodles

Cheung Fun

Silky steamed rice noodle rolls filled with beef, shrimp, or dough with sweet soy sauce.

Char Siu BBQ Pork

Char Siu & Roast Goose

Honey-glazed Cantonese BBQ pork and crispy-skinned roast duck/goose with sweet plum sauce.

Tea Table Finger Tapping Ritual

Tea Table Finger Tapping

When tea is poured for you, tap two fingers lightly on the table to silently say "Thank You"!

Safety, Scams & Essential Traveler Advice

Tea House Scams, Hotel Address Cards & Taxi Meter Rules

Smart Traveler

Tea House Scam

Be cautious of overly friendly "students" on Beijing Road or Shangxiajiu inviting you to a traditional tea house or art exhibition. You may be forced to pay inflated bills of thousands of Yuan.

Insist on Taxi Meter

Never take unmetered "black taxis" waiting outside train stations or CAN airport arrivals. Always enter the official metered taxi queue or use Didi inside the Alipay app.

Save Address in Hanzi

Taxi drivers do not speak English. Always keep a digital screenshot or paper card of your hotel name and full street address written in Chinese characters (Hanzi).

Guangzhou & Baiyun Airport FAQ

The fastest and cheapest option is Guangzhou Metro Line 3 (Airport South for T1, Airport North for T2). It takes approximately 35–45 minutes to reach Guangzhou East Railway Station or Zhujiang New Town. Taxis and Didi rides cost around 100–150 CNY (~45 minutes).

Passports holders from 54 qualifying countries transit-flying from Country A → CAN → Country C (including HK/Macau) can apply for a free 144-hour temporary entry permit at dedicated immigration desks before customs. You must present a confirmed onward ticket departing China within 6 days.

Direct card swiping is only available at major 5-star hotels and luxury malls. However, you can link your international Visa or Mastercard directly to Alipay or WeChat Pay to pay cashless across 99% of shops, taxis, and restaurants.

Take the High-Speed Bullet Train from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon (approx. 45–60 minutes). Alternatively, fast ferries operate from Pazhou Ferry Terminal directly to HK Airport SkyPier.

Use an international roaming plan or buy a Travel eSIM with cellular roaming before entering mainland China. Cellular data roaming bypasses China's internet firewall natively without requiring a VPN.

Autumn (October to December) is the best time to visit, with warm, dry, sunny weather. Summers (June to August) are extremely hot, humid, and subject to rainstorms.

No. Most taxi drivers only speak Cantonese or Mandarin. Always keep your hotel name and target destinations written in Chinese characters (Hanzi) on your phone or use the Didi mini-program in Alipay which automatically translates addresses.

Tianhe / Zhujiang New Town is best for modern luxury, skyscraper views, and shopping. Yuexiu / Beijing Road is best for historic charm and street food. Haizhu (Pazhou) is ideal for Canton Fair attendees.

Guangzhou is one of the safest major cities in the world with extremely low rates of violent crime. Standard precautions against pickpocketing in crowded markets are sufficient.

Do not leave Guangzhou without experiencing morning Yum Cha (Dim Sum): order Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai, Cheung Fun (rice noodle rolls), Char Siu (honey BBQ pork), and Cantonese Wonton Noodles.