Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Also known as: Guangzhou Airport, Baiyun Airport, CAN Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport.
Private transfer from CANSee pricesSee pricesAbout Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) serves Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province in southern China. It sits about 28 km north of downtown Guangzhou.
China Southern Airlines is based here and flies across China and to Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Air China, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines run large domestic networks from the airport, and foreign airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines link it with their hubs.
Two terminals are in use. Terminal 2 is China Southern's base, and Terminal 3, opened on 30 October 2025, handles most other Chinese airlines and many foreign carriers. Terminal 1 closed on 7 May 2026 for renovation. The airport has five runways.
Metro Line 3 and intercity trains connect the airport with the city, and the drive to central Guangzhou takes about 40 to 60 minutes. From here, travelers head to the Tianhe and Yuexiu districts, the Canton Fair complex in Pazhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Airport operator, runways and traffic
- Operator
Guangdong Airport Authority
- Passengers per year
About 83.6 million in 2025
- Runways
Five
- Main airline
China Southern Airlines
- Opened
August 2004
Arrival tips for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
International arrivals clear immigration first. Citizens of many countries can now enter China visa-free for up to 30 days through 31 December 2026, and citizens of 57 countries can use 240-hour visa-free transit with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country; you can file the arrival card online before landing through the National Immigration Administration app or mini programs, or complete it at the airport.
After immigration, collect your bags in the arrivals baggage hall and pass customs.
Taxis queue at marked stands: Gates 50 and 53 at Terminal 2, and Gates 72 and 75 at Terminal 3. Ride-hailing cars such as DiDi pick up in the parking garages, P8 at Terminal 2 and P12 at Terminal 3, with a short-stop zone outside Gate 72 at Terminal 3. Use only metered taxis from the official queue.
Guangzhou is hot and humid in summer and mild in winter. It runs on China Standard Time (UTC+8, no daylight saving), and the currency is the renminbi (CNY).
Ground transportation
Metro Line 3 is the simplest option into the city for most travelers, while taxis and ride-hailing suit those with luggage or late arrivals.
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Book a transfer from CANMetro Line 3
Line 3 leaves from Airport North station at Terminal 2 and reaches Tiyu Xilu in Tianhe in about 45 minutes, running roughly 06:00 to 23:30. From Terminal 3, take the free shuttle bus to Gaozeng station or the intercity train one stop to Terminal 2.
Taxi from Guangzhou airport
Metered taxis wait at Gates 50 and 53 at Terminal 2 and Gates 72 and 75 at Terminal 3. The drive to central Guangzhou takes about 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.
Ride-hailing (DiDi)
DiDi pickups are in parking garage P8 at Terminal 2 and P12 at Terminal 3, not at the curb. Journeys take a similar 40 to 60 minutes, but the walk to the garage adds a few minutes.
Intercity train
Baiyun Airport East station at Terminal 3 has trains about every 17 minutes, reaching Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station in about 39 minutes and continuing toward Foshan, Dongguan and Zhaoqing.
Airport express bus
Airport express bus lines run to Guangzhou Railway Station, Tianhe and other districts, plus longer routes across Guangdong. They take about 60 to 90 minutes and run less often late at night.
Private transfer
A pre-booked driver meets you in the arrivals hall and drives you to your hotel, which avoids taxi queues and language issues.
Moving between terminals
- 1
Free shuttle bus
A free 24-hour shuttle bus links Terminal 2 (east bus station, stop 30) with Terminal 3, taking about 25 minutes, with buses every 8 to 20 minutes depending on the hour.
- 2
Intercity train
The intercity line connects Baiyun Airport North station at Terminal 2 with Baiyun Airport East station at Terminal 3 in one stop, with trains about every 17 minutes.
- 3
Check your terminal
Boarding passes show T2 or T3, and airlines have moved between terminals during 2025 and 2026, so confirm before you travel.
Terminals
Terminal 2
China Southern Airlines' main base for domestic and international flights, with some partner airlines. Metro Line 3 stops at Airport North station below the terminal.
Airlines commonly assigned here: China Southern Airlines, Singapore Airlines
Terminal 3
Opened in October 2025 and handles most other Chinese airlines plus many foreign carriers' international flights. Intercity trains stop at Baiyun Airport East station in its transport center.
Airlines commonly assigned here: Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Turkish Airlines
Airlines and destinations
Frequently asked questions
How far is Guangzhou airport from the city center?
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is about 28 km north of downtown Guangzhou. A taxi or ride-hailing car takes about 40 to 60 minutes to the center depending on traffic. Metro Line 3 from Terminal 2 reaches Tiyu Xilu in the Tianhe district in about 45 minutes, which suits travelers without heavy luggage.
Is Guangzhou Baiyun airport in the city?
No. The airport lies about 28 km north of downtown Guangzhou, well outside the urban core, and is not within walking distance of any central neighborhood. Expressways, Metro Line 3 and the intercity rail line connect it with central Guangzhou, Foshan and other cities in the Pearl River Delta.
How many terminals does Guangzhou airport have?
Guangzhou Baiyun airport has three terminal buildings, but only two are in use. Terminal 2 is the base of China Southern Airlines, and Terminal 3, opened on 30 October 2025, handles most other Chinese airlines and many foreign carriers. Terminal 1 closed on 7 May 2026 for renovation, and its airlines moved to Terminal 3.
Which terminal does my airline use at Guangzhou airport?
China Southern Airlines operates from Terminal 2. China Eastern, Air China, Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and many international carriers, including Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Turkish Airlines, use Terminal 3. Allocations changed several times in 2025 and 2026, so check the terminal printed on your boarding pass or your airline's notice before heading to the airport.
How do I move between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3?
A free shuttle bus runs 24 hours from the Terminal 2 east bus station, stop 30, to Terminal 3, taking about 25 minutes with buses every 8 to 20 minutes. You can also take the intercity train one stop between Baiyun Airport North station at Terminal 2 and Baiyun Airport East station at Terminal 3.
Where are the taxis at Guangzhou airport?
Official taxi ranks are at Gates 50 and 53 in the Terminal 2 Ground Transportation Center, and at Gate 72 for domestic arrivals and Gate 75 for international arrivals at Terminal 3. Taxis are metered, a night surcharge applies late in the evening, and you should join the official queue rather than accept offers from drivers inside the terminal.
How do I take the metro from Guangzhou airport?
Metro Line 3 starts at Airport North station under Terminal 2 and reaches Tiyu Xilu in the Tianhe district in about 45 minutes, running roughly 06:00 to 23:30. Terminal 3 has no metro station yet, so take the free shuttle bus to Gaozeng station on Lines 3 and 9, or the intercity train one stop to Terminal 2.
Can I use DiDi at Guangzhou airport?
Yes. DiDi and other ride-hailing apps pick up in the parking garages, not at the curb: P8 on levels 2 and 3 at Terminal 2, and P12 at Terminal 3. Terminal 3 also has a short-stop pickup zone outside Gate 72 on Level 1. Journeys to central Guangzhou take about 40 to 60 minutes.
Do I need a visa or arrival card to enter China at Guangzhou?
Citizens of many countries can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026, and 57 nationalities qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. Since 20 November 2025, you can submit the arrival card online before landing, or complete it on arrival at the airport.
How do I get from Guangzhou airport to Shenzhen or Hong Kong?
Long-distance airport express buses run from the airport to cities across Guangdong, and the intercity rail line at Terminal 3 links to the wider Pearl River Delta network. For Shenzhen or Hong Kong, many travelers ride into Guangzhou and change to high-speed trains, allowing time for the transfer and, for Hong Kong, a separate border crossing.
What time zone and currency does Guangzhou use?
Guangzhou uses China Standard Time, UTC+8, all year with no daylight saving time. The currency is the renminbi (CNY), and mobile payment apps are the usual way to pay. Summers are hot, humid and rainy, while winters are mild, so expect warm, muggy air when you step outside the terminal for much of the year.
How busy is Guangzhou Baiyun airport and who runs it?
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport handled about 83.6 million passengers in 2025, up from about 76.4 million in 2024. It is run under the Guangdong Airport Authority and opened at its current site in August 2004. The airport now has five runways and serves as the main hub of China Southern Airlines.