China

Guangzhou Travel Guide

Guangzhou brings together Cantonese food traditions, leafy hills, intricate heritage buildings and riverside city walks.

Chen Clan Ancestral HallPhoto: Shujianyang · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Before you go

When to go and how long to stay

Plan two to three days for old Guangzhou, Cantonese meals and one outdoor stop. Choose a cooler day for Baiyun Mountain and keep a flexible indoor plan for heavy summer rain.

Entry documents

Check your passport’s eligibility with China’s National Immigration Administration before booking. A tourist visa, ordinary visa-free entry and visa-free transit are different options. Transit eligibility depends on your passport, approved ports, permitted area and confirmed travel onward to a third country or region. Save your first hotel’s address in Chinese and keep your onward itinerary handy for the arrival form.

Getting to the city

At Baiyun Airport (CAN), follow signs for Metro Line 3 and use the station for your terminal. Change at a suitable interchange for Liwan or Yuexiu. Check the last train if you arrive at night.

Guangzhou South is a major high-speed rail station, far south of the old center. Guangzhou East and Guangzhou Railway Station are different terminals. Match your route to the exact station named on the ticket.

Getting around

Use the Metro between districts. Group Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian and meals in Liwan together. For Baiyun Mountain, choose a particular gate instead of routing to the center of the mountain area.

Payments and mobile data

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and link an eligible international card before flying. Keep some small RMB notes and a backup card, and save your hotel and station names offline. Check whether your phone supports roaming or a travel eSIM. When booking intercity rail through 12306, enter your passport name exactly and bring the same original document to the station.

Where to stay

Liwan or Yuexiu puts traditional neighborhoods and Cantonese food close by. Tianhe is useful if you want more modern hotels or have plans in the eastern business districts.