Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

Baiyun is the gateway to Guangzhou and the wider Pearl River Delta, and it is the main base for China Southern Airlines, one of the country’s largest carriers. It is a big, modern operation that also serves as a significant cargo hub, and it connects southern China to the rest of Asia and beyond.

The terminals

There are two terminals, T1 and T2. Terminal 2, the newer building, took over a large share of the traffic when it opened and handles China Southern along with many international flights; Terminal 1 carries the rest. They are close together but function as distinct buildings, so check which one your flight uses before you set off — arriving at the wrong terminal means a transfer.

Getting into the city

Guangzhou Metro Line 3 serves the airport directly, with stations at the terminals, and runs south into the city center. It is the cheapest and most traffic-proof way in, and it plugs into Guangzhou’s extensive metro network for onward trips. The airport sits about 28 km north of central Guangzhou, so a taxi is a longer, pricier ride, though metered and straightforward.

Worth knowing

If you are transiting China here, check the current visa-free transit rules for your nationality and route before you count on leaving the airport — the Guangzhou region participates in the transit schemes, but they carry conditions on your time in the country and your onward destination. Immigration and security are thorough, so leave time on both arrival and departure, particularly during the busy travel periods around Chinese public holidays when volumes surge.