In short
The everyday way from Baiyun Airport into Guangzhou is Metro Line 3 north extension: the platform sits on the west side of B1 in the Terminal 2 ground transportation centre, the ride to Tiyu Xilu takes about 40 minutes, the fare is ¥7, the first train leaves at 06:00 and the last at 23:15, and trains run roughly every 4–7 minutes at peak. Change at Jiahewanggang for Line 2, Yantang for Line 6, and Tiyu Xilu for Line 1 and the APM line. If you have heavy bags or simply do not want to change trains, take a coach from the T2 West Bus Terminal: Downtown Line 1 costs ¥20 before 22:00 and ¥21 afterwards and ends at the CAAC ticket office right beside Guangzhou Railway Station, while the Airport Road corridor shuttle is ¥19.8 by day and ¥35 at night. Arriving at Terminal 3? There is no metro there, so either take a T3 express coach (the Liwan or Huangpu lines, from ¥19.9) or ride the Airport Link 2 branch bus (¥2, about 15 minutes) to Gaozeng and join the metro from there. Taxis operate 24 hours and always run on the meter. Terminal 1 closed for renovation on 7 May 2026 and Airport South metro station closed with it, so ignore any old guide that tells you to get off there.
- Airport → Tiyu Xilu
- About 40 min
- Metro fare
- ¥7 (distance-based)
- First / last train
- 06:00 / 23:15
- Headway
- About 4–7 min
- Metro station
- GTC B1, west side (T2)
- Coach fare from T2
- ¥20 (¥21 after 22:00)
- Terminals in use
- T2 and T3 (T1 closed)
How to take each option
Metro Line 3 north extension (the everyday route)
Time About 40 minFare ¥7First 06:00Last 23:15
- Follow the Metro signs out of the arrivals hall into the Terminal 2 ground transportation centre, then take the escalator or lift down to B1 — the Airport North concourse is on the west side.
- Buy a single-journey token at the machines by tapping your entry station and then your destination; a Yangchengtong card, a metro ride code or a transit card can also be tapped straight through the gate.
- Clear the security check and check the destination panel on the front of the train, because Line 3 runs in two overlapping patterns and only trains signed Tiyu Xilu go through to the centre.
- Board and ride about 40 minutes to Tiyu Xilu, changing instead at Jiahewanggang for Line 2, Yantang for Line 6, or Tiyu Xilu for Line 1 and the APM line if your hotel is on another line.
- Leave by the exit signs for your street: tokens drop into the gate on the way out, while card and QR journeys are charged on exit.
Terminal 1 closed for renovation on 7 May 2026 and Airport South station closed with it, so trains run through without stopping — use Airport North only. There is no metro at Terminal 3: take the Airport Link 2 branch bus to Gaozeng (about 15 minutes, ¥2) and join the metro there. The last train toward the city leaves at 23:15; if you miss it, take a coach or a taxi.
Airport coaches from Terminal 2
Fare From ¥20First 07:00
- From the Terminal 2 arrivals level, follow the coach signs to the West Bus Terminal inside the ground transportation centre.
- Buy at the staffed counter or the self-service machine and say clearly where you are getting off — on Downtown Line 1 that is usually the CAAC ticket office, right beside Guangzhou Railway Station.
- Walk to the bay number printed on your ticket, queue there, and let the driver load your suitcase into the luggage hold.
- Keep your ticket stub once on board, and move towards the door before your stop.
Two T2 lines: Downtown Line 1 runs via the CAAC residential area, Baiyun district government centre and Sanyuanli to the CAAC ticket office and Baima Building for ¥20 by day and ¥21 from 22:00 until the last flight; the Airport Road corridor shuttle serves Xinshixu (Baixin Plaza) and the CAAC residential area for ¥19.8 by day (08:35–22:05) and ¥35 at night. Both accept advance purchase through the Baiyun Airport Express and Airport Tong WeChat accounts.
T3 express coaches (if you land at T3)
Fare From ¥19.9First 07:00Last 06:00
- From Terminal 3 arrivals, follow the coach signs to the signed coach bays of the Terminal 3 transport centre.
- Buy at the counter, or in advance through the Guangjiao Zhongyun Transport mini-program.
- The Liwan line stops at metro entrances such as Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Chen Clan Academy; the Huangpu line stops at entrances such as Dashadong — pick the line that meets the metro you need.
- Board at the assigned bay; the coach drops you at the kerb right outside the metro entrance.
The T3 coach network runs 07:00 to 06:00 the next day, with late-night departures covering the five core districts of Baiyun, Tianhe, Haizhu, Yuexiu and Liwan until the last flight of the day. Per-line first and last departures were published only as images, so double-check them before you buy.
Taxi
Fare Metered
- Follow the Taxi signs to the official queue: outside Gate 50 (domestic) or Gate 53 (international) on the Terminal 2 arrivals level, or outside Gate 72 (domestic) or Gate 75 (international) at Terminal 3.
- Only join the barrier-marked, staffed queue. Ignore anyone who approaches you offering a fixed price, and never negotiate: Guangzhou taxis are metered by law.
- Show the driver your hotel name and address written in Chinese — a screenshot from your booking app is enough — and check that the meter has been reset and is running.
- At the hotel pay the metered amount plus the road and bridge toll for that trip, and ask for the printed receipt.
The published tariff: ¥12 flag-fall covering the first 3 km, then ¥2.60 per km, plus 30% on the distance rate between 23:00 and 05:00, a return-empty surcharge of 20% on the 15–25 km portion and 50% beyond 25 km, and ¥44 per hour of waiting whenever the cab drops below 10 km/h. Details on our taxi page.
Late-night and early-morning arrivals
The last Metro Line 3 train from Airport North toward the city leaves at 23:15, and after that there is no metro service at all. Your options then are taxi (the ranks run 24 hours), ride-hailing, or a late-night coach: the Baiyun city coach network keeps departures for the five core districts of Baiyun, Tianhe, Haizhu, Yuexiu and Liwan going until the last flight of the day, the Airport Road corridor shuttle charges ¥35 at night, and Downtown Line 1 costs ¥21 after 22:00. Taxis add the statutory 30% night surcharge to the distance rate between 23:00 and 05:00.
Questions travellers ask
What is the easiest way from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to the city centre?
If you land at Terminal 2, take Metro Line 3 north extension straight from the station under the terminal: 40 minutes to Tiyu Xilu for ¥7, with changes onto almost every other city line on the way. Only consider a coach or taxi if you have a lot of luggage or your hotel sits near one of the railway stations.
How much is the metro from Guangzhou Airport to the city centre?
It is charged by distance: Airport North to Tiyu Xilu is ¥7. Stations further out cost slightly more, and the machine shows the exact fare once you pick your destination.
What time is the last metro from Baiyun Airport?
The last train from Airport North toward Tiyu Xilu departs at 23:15, with the first at 06:00 and headways of about 4–7 minutes at peak. Guangzhou Metro publishes city-to-airport times only through its own interactive query tool, so no figure is given for that direction.
How long does it take to get from CAN to downtown Guangzhou?
The metro takes about 40 minutes to Tiyu Xilu, and that figure is reliable because trains are not affected by traffic. No official journey time is published for coaches or taxis, which depend on the road.
How much is a taxi from Baiyun Airport to downtown Guangzhou?
Guangzhou publishes no airport-to-district taxi prices, only the metered formula: ¥12 for the first 3 km and ¥2.60 per km after that. The municipal transport authority’s own fare-estimator mini-program gives one worked figure — Baiyun T2 taxi rank to Canton Tower, 44.8 km, ¥159 excluding tolls. The meter is what counts.
I arrive at T2 or T3 — where do I get the metro?
Only Terminal 2 has metro access, on B1 of the ground transportation centre. Terminal 3 has no metro station, so either take the Airport Link 2 branch bus to Gaozeng (¥2, about 15 minutes) or ride the intercity train to Terminal 2 (about 6 minutes, ¥5) and change there.
Can I still use Terminal 1?
No. Terminal 1 closed for renovation on 7 May 2026 and all its flights moved elsewhere; Airport South metro station closed with it and trains now pass through without stopping. Any older guide telling you to board at T1 is out of date.
How do I get into the city from Terminal 3?
Three options: a T3 express coach (Liwan or Huangpu lines, from ¥19.9, 07:00 to 06:00 the next day) that stops at metro entrances; the Airport Link 2 branch bus to Gaozeng for ¥2 and onto the metro; or a taxi from outside Gates 72 and 75 on the arrivals level.
What is the cheapest way into the city?
The metro at ¥7 is the cheapest. Landing at T3 and counting pennies? Take the ¥2 branch bus to Gaozeng and join the metro there.
What time do the airport buses stop running?
The T3 coach network runs from 07:00 to 06:00 the next day, and the city coach lines keep late-night departures to the five core districts until the last flight of the day; Downtown Line 1 costs ¥21 after 22:00 and also runs to the end of flights. Check the boards on site for per-line times.
Can I pay for the metro or coach by phone?
Metro machines take cash as well as QR codes, and the gates accept transit cards and ride codes. Coach tickets are sold at the staffed counter with QR payment accepted, and several lines also sell in advance through WeChat mini-programs.