Guangzhou for First-Time Visitors: Airport, Metro, Payments & Tickets (2026)

Short answer: The metro takes foreign Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB at the gates, and Shenzhen is about 30–40 min away by high-speed train. Most sights need no booking days ahead.

Visa-free entry and 240-hour transit

Guangzhou's airport is a designated port for 240-hour visa-free transit. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces (Tibet, Xinjiang and a few other regions are not included).

Not sure which rule applies to you? Check your passport in 10 seconds or see rules by country.

Airport to the city

Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN)

Option	Time	Cost
Metro Line 3 Runs about 6:00–23:00	40–50 min to Tiyu Xilu	~¥7–10
Taxi / Didi	40–60 min	~¥100–150

Landing late, with luggage or kids? A pre-booked car meets you in arrivals with a name sign, at a fixed price: Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) transfer. (affiliate links)

Times and fares change. Check Amap or the airport's official site on the day. First time landing in China? Read arriving in China step by step.

Metro and taxis

Metro: Since October 2025 the metro takes contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB; use gates showing the card logos. Alipay's metro QR code works everywhere. Set up Alipay with your foreign card before you fly as a backup.

Didi: Didi works well inside Alipay. Traffic is heavy at rush hour, when the metro is faster. See how to use Didi as a foreigner.

Hotels in Guangzhou

Check in with your passport: hotels register foreign guests with the police automatically at check-in, so there's nothing else to do. Compare hotels in Guangzhou on Trip.com (affiliate link): the site is in English, shows prices in your currency and takes foreign cards. Save the hotel's address in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers.

Top sights: do you need to book?

Canton TowerBooking: Paid ticket; same day is usually fine, sunset slots fill firstPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Metro Line 3 or APM to Canton Tower · Book tickets

Shamian IslandBooking: Free, no bookingPassport: Not neededHow: Metro Line 1 or 6 to Huangsha

Chen Clan Ancestral HallBooking: Small ticket; buy at the gate or onlinePassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Metro Line 1 to Chen Clan Academy

Pearl River night cruiseBooking: Buy the same day or a day aheadPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Piers near Tianzi and Canton Tower

"Book tickets" links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Day trips from Guangzhou

Foshan: Metro (Guangfo line) or train, about 30–60 min
Shenzhen: High-speed train, about 30–40 min

Where to go next

Shenzhen: 30–40 min by high-speed train
Guilin: 2.5–3 h by high-speed train

Booking trains: how to book China's high-speed trains as a foreigner. All cities: China city guides.

Next steps for your trip

1. Fill in the arrival cardOnline, free, within 72h before landing 2. Set up AlipayLink your Visa or Mastercard before you fly 3. Get a China eSIMGoogle, WhatsApp & Instagram keep working · affiliate link Stuck? Ask a real personWhatsApp / WeChat · paid help from $15

FAQ

Can I use 240-hour visa-free transit in Guangzhou?

Yes. Guangzhou Baiyun airport is a designated port. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces.

Can I pay for the Guangzhou metro with a foreign card?

Yes. Since October 2025, contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB cards work at gates with the card logos. Alipay's metro QR code is the backup.

How do I get from Guangzhou to Hong Kong?

High-speed trains run from Guangzhou South (and some from Guangzhou East) to Hong Kong West Kowloon in about 1 h. You clear both border checks at West Kowloon.

Last verified 24 October 2026. Sources: [1] [2] [3] . Rules, fares and booking windows change often — confirm on official channels before you travel.