In short
Guangzhou metered taxi fares are set by Suifaigaigui [2024] No. 9, in force since 30 November 2024: the ¥12 flag-fall covers the first 3 km, every kilometre after that costs ¥2.60, waiting time in traffic below 10 km/h is billed at ¥44 an hour, and a return-empty surcharge adds 20% to the distance rate on the 15–25 km portion and 50% beyond 25 km. Between 23:00 and 05:00 the distance rate carries a 30% night surcharge. At peak hours (07:00–10:00 and 16:00–21:00) the flag-fall, distance rate and waiting fee may each be marked up by 0, 10, 20 or 30 per cent, and at off-peak times (10:00–16:00) discounted by the same steps. During the Spring Festival public holiday ¥10 is added per trip, and any road or bridge toll for that trip is paid by the passenger on top of the metered amount. Pickup points differ by terminal: at Terminal 2 follow the signs to the ranks on the east and west sides of the ground transportation centre, outside Gate 50 on the arrivals level for domestic arrivals and Gate 53 for international ones (Gate 51 is closed); at Terminal 3 the domestic rank is outside Gate 72 and the international rank outside Gate 75, which also serves short-distance rides. All of them run around the clock. The Guangzhou transport authority is explicit that the only permitted extra on top of the meter is the toll for that trip — always take the printed receipt and keep a screenshot of any electronic payment. No official airport-to-district reference price exists; the authority’s own fare-estimator mini-program offers one worked figure, ¥159 for the 44.8 km from the T2 rank to Canton Tower excluding tolls, and even then the meter governs.
- Flag-fall
- ¥12 (first 3 km)
- Distance rate
- ¥2.60 per km
- Waiting fee
- ¥44/h below 10 km/h
- Return-empty surcharge
- +20% at 15–25 km, +50% beyond 25 km
- Night surcharge
- +30% distance rate, 23:00–05:00
- Peak / off-peak
- Up or down by 0/10/20/30%
- Spring Festival
- +¥10 per trip
- T2 pickup
- Arrivals, Gates 50 and 53
- T3 pickup
- Arrivals, Gates 72 and 75
- Hours
- 24 hours
How to take each option
Getting a taxi at Terminal 2
- After baggage claim, follow the Taxi signs from the arrivals level to the ranks on the east and west sides of the ground transportation centre.
- Leave by the right door: Gate 50 for domestic arrivals, Gate 53 for international ones. Gate 51 is closed.
- Join only the barrier-marked, staffed queue. Nobody who approaches you inside the hall is needed, and there is nothing to negotiate.
- Show the driver your hotel name and address written in Chinese — a booking-app screenshot is fine — and check that the meter reads zero.
- Pay at the hotel: metered amount plus the toll for that trip, take the receipt and keep a screenshot of the payment.
To get a sense of the bill before you queue, scan the QR code on the notice board at the rank and use the municipal Taxi Fare Estimate mini-program. Its result excludes tolls and is not a cap.
Getting a taxi at Terminal 3
- Follow the Taxi signs on the Terminal 3 arrivals level: Gate 72 serves domestic arrivals and Gate 75 international ones.
- Gate 75 doubles as the short-distance rank, so for very short hops near the airport it is usually the quicker queue.
- The ranks operate 24 hours. Check the meter is running and show the Chinese address as you would anywhere else.
Terminal 1 closed for renovation on 7 May 2026 and no longer offers taxi service — going to the wrong terminal costs at least 20 minutes, and the free shuttle bus or the intercity train (about 6 minutes, ¥5) links T2 with T3.
How the fare is built up
- Start with ¥12 covering the first 3 km, then ¥2.60 for every further kilometre.
- Past 15 km a return-empty surcharge applies: 20% on the distance rate for the 15–25 km portion and 50% beyond 25 km.
- Traffic jams are metered too — below 10 km/h the waiting fee of ¥44 an hour kicks in.
- Between 23:00 and 05:00 add 30% to the distance rate, then allow for the peak-hour markup of up to 30% or the off-peak discount of up to 30% that operators may apply within those bands.
- Finally add the road and bridge toll for the trip, plus ¥10 per trip during the Spring Festival holiday.
Run the published formula over the authority’s own 44.8 km example from the T2 rank to Canton Tower and distance plus return-empty surcharges alone come to roughly ¥150; the estimator returned ¥159, flat-peak and excluding tolls. That is not an official airport-to-city price — Guangzhou publishes none — and the meter remains the final word.
Paying, receipts and complaints
- Pay the figure on the in-car meter; most cabs take cash as well as QR payment.
- If a tolled road was used, pay the toll separately. Beyond those two items you owe nothing else.
- Ask for the printed receipt as you get out — it carries the cab number and the trip record, which is your proof if you lose something or dispute the fare.
- Overcharged? Keep the receipt and screenshot, then call 12345 or use the Guangzhou taxi complaint QR code — the city runs an advance-refund scheme that normally pays you back within a day.
Do not tip and expect no luggage charge: there is no such extra in Guangzhou taxi practice.
Late-night and early-morning arrivals
The ranks never close, which makes taxis the dependable late-night option. Note the statutory night surcharge, though: 30% on the distance rate between 23:00 and 05:00, which is lawful pricing rather than overcharging. The last Metro Line 3 train from Airport North toward the city leaves at 23:15, and once you miss it only the late-night coaches remain — the Baiyun city coach network keeps departures for the five core districts of Baiyun, Tianhe, Haizhu, Yuexiu and Liwan until the last flight of the day.
Questions travellers ask
How much is a taxi from Baiyun Airport to downtown Guangzhou?
Guangzhou publishes no official airport-to-district prices, only the formula: ¥12 for the first 3 km, then ¥2.60 per km, plus return-empty, night and toll extras. The authority’s own estimator gives the one worked official example — T2 to Canton Tower, 44.8 km, about ¥159 excluding tolls. Third-party travel-site ranges are deliberately not used here; the meter decides.
What is the Guangzhou taxi flag-fall?
¥12 covering the first 3 km, under Suifaigaigui [2024] No. 9 in force since 30 November 2024, followed by ¥2.60 per km beyond that.
Do taxis cost more at night?
Yes — the distance rate carries a lawful 30% surcharge from 23:00 to 05:00, applied on the meter itself.
Who pays the road and bridge toll?
The passenger pays it on top. The transport authority is explicit that nothing beyond the metered amount and the toll for that trip should change hands.
Where is the taxi rank at Terminal 2?
Follow the Taxi signs to the ranks on the east and west flanks of the ground transportation centre, outside Gate 50 (domestic arrivals) or Gate 53 (international arrivals). Gate 51 no longer works.
Where is the taxi rank at Terminal 3?
Outside Gate 72 for domestic arrivals and Gate 75 for international ones, with Gate 75 also serving short-distance rides. Both run 24 hours.
Can I get a taxi at 3 a.m.?
Yes — the ranks run all night. You simply pay 30% more on the distance rate until 05:00, and by then the metro has stopped running anyway.
Taxi or metro from Baiyun Airport?
Arriving at T2 in daylight with light bags, Line 3 at 40 minutes and ¥7 beats everything and ignores traffic. Choose a taxi if you land at T3, have lots of luggage, are three or four travelling together, arrive in the small hours, or have a hotel away from the metro.
How do I avoid getting ripped off?
Use only the official rank, ignore touts who quote prices inside the arrivals hall, make sure the meter is zeroed and running when you set off, and take the receipt.
Do I tip, or pay extra for suitcases?
Neither. There is no luggage charge and tipping is not customary; pay the metered amount plus the toll and you are square.
What if the driver does not speak English?
Most drivers do not speak English, so keep your hotel name and address saved in Chinese — a booking-app screenshot is enough — and simply show it.
Is there still a taxi rank at Terminal 1?
No. Terminal 1 closed for renovation on 7 May 2026, its flights moved to T3, and there is no taxi service there. Go to whichever of T2 and T3 your ticket says.