Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is one of mainland China’s busiest airports and the main hub for China Southern Airlines. It sits north of central Guangzhou and serves an enormous network of domestic and international routes. It operates two large passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, each with its own metro station, and an automated people mover (APM) helps move passengers around the sprawling complex.

Getting to Guangzhou

• Metro Line 3: Often called the Airport Line, it serves both terminals via Airport South (Terminal 1) and Airport North (Terminal 2) stations, both connected directly into the terminals. It runs to Tianhe, Canton Tower, and Guangzhou East Railway Station.
• Reaching the center: For many downtown destinations you take Line 3 and transfer to another line, for example Line 2 at Jiahewanggang, with total journeys often around an hour.
• Taxi and rideshare: Available from both terminals, though timings vary with traffic and the airport’s distance from the core.

Inside the terminal

Baiyun is modern and vast, with extensive Chinese and international dining, shops, lounges, and rest areas. Wifi is available, though visitors often need to register, so having your passport handy helps. Signage is bilingual, but the sheer scale means you should give yourself time to walk.

Layovers and connections

As a major China Southern hub, CAN handles heavy connecting traffic. If your connection moves between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, plan extra time and use the shuttle or metro link. Note that many travelers connecting internationally will need to consider China’s transit visa rules, so check whether leaving the airport is permitted for your nationality before planning a city trip.

Use the tools above to check whether your layover is long enough to leave, and how the transit, immigration, and security timings add up for CAN.