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Guangzhou for visitors and Canton Fair buyers

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Guangzhou in five lines

Suits: trade-fair buyers, Cantonese food, a base for factory visits across the Pearl River Delta.

Days needed: one fair phase is 5 days; add 1-2 for the old city and dim sum.

Getting in: one airport, Baiyun 白云 Báiyún (CAN), plus four big rail stations; Guangzhou South 广州南 is the high-speed hub.

The fair: the Canton Fair runs 15 April to 5 May 2027 at Pazhou 琶洲 Pázhōu, on Line 8, Line 11 (Pazhou).

Visa: 30-day visa-free until 31 December 2026, or 240-hour transit via Baiyun.

Getting in: airports and stations

From each airport and main station to the centre (Canton Fair Complex, Pazhou)
FromHowPriceTimeChecked
Baiyun Airport (CAN) 广州白云国际机场Metro Line 3 to Tiyu Xilu¥10~45 min
Airport express bus¥18-30, 60-90 min
Metered taxi to the centre¥120-180, 30-50 min
Guangzhou South Station 广州南站Routes not checked yet
Guangzhou East Station 广州东站Routes not checked yet

240-hour visa-free transit via Guangzhou

Transit ports in Guangzhou
CAN airport + Nansha cruise port
Where you may stay
Guangdong plus 23 other provincial regions

Entering from Hong Kong or Macao by land is a different scheme: see the 240-hour transit page before you plan a Hong Kong to Guangzhou route.

Guangzhou overview

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong and, for many visitors, a business stop before it is a sightseeing one. Twice a year the Canton Fair fills the Pazhou exhibition complex in Haizhu District; the autumn 2026 session drew 352,000 buyers from 219 countries and regions. That cycle drives hotel prices and train demand across the city, so check the fair calendar before you book any trip here in April, May, October or November.

Baiyun Airport lies north of the centre. Metro Line 3 is the simple option at ¥10, taking ~45 min to Tiyu Xilu in Tianhe. Airport buses are ¥18-30, 60-90 min, and a metered taxi is ¥120-180, 30-50 min. Note that Terminal 1 and Airport South station closed for renovation (one guide; verify): follow the signs to Airport North.

Getting around is easier than it was. Metro payment: Foreign cards tap since Oct 2025, so a Visa or Mastercard works at the gate, and most fares are ¥2-14. For the fair, ride Line 8 or Line 11 to the Pazhou stops rather than a taxi at closing time.

Outside fair weeks the city rewards a slower day: Shamian Island in Liwan keeps 150+ buildings from its concession era, and the Canton Tower (600 m) faces the river in Haizhu.

Paying and getting around in Guangzhou
FactValueCheckedSource
Guangzhou metro foreign card paymentGuangzhou MetroForeign cards tap since Oct 2025China DailySecondary source
Guangzhou metro fare rangeGuangzhou Metro¥2-14Wander in ChinaSecondary source
Terminal 1 / Airport South metro closureBaiyun AirportTerminal 1 and Airport South station closed for renovation (one guide; verify)Wander in ChinaSecondary source
Canton Fair venue and metroCanton Fair, PazhouLine 8, Line 11 (Pazhou)Guangzhou municipal government

Areas to know

  • Tianhe 天河区

    Zhujiang New Town towers, malls and the Guangdong Museum; the business base.

  • Haizhu 海珠区

    Canton Tower and the Pazhou fair complex; fair-week hotels cluster here.

  • Yuexiu 越秀区

    The old core: Yuexiu Park and the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

  • Liwan 荔湾区

    Shamian Island and the Chen Clan Academy; best for a walking day.

Our own neighbourhood map is not drawn yet

Where to stay in Guangzhou

Where-to-stay page not built yet (needs 6+ checked properties)

Start here

Show the driver 给司机看

广州市海珠区阅江中路380号 中国进出口商品交易会展馆

Guǎngzhōu Shì Hǎizhū Qū Yuèjiāng Zhōng Lù 380 Hào

China Import and Export Fair Complex, 380 Yuejiang Middle Road, Haizhu District

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Questions people ask

How do I get from Baiyun Airport to the city?

Metro Line 3 (¥10, ~45 min) or a taxi (¥120-180, 30-50 min).

Which metro line goes to the Canton Fair?

The Pazhou complex is on Line 8, Line 11 (Pazhou).

Sources

  1. Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Metro - Line 3 Guide, AirConnect, retrieved
  2. 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Guangdong, TravelChinaGuide, retrieved
  3. China's 240-hour visa-free transit program covers more ports in Guangdong, China Daily, retrieved
  4. Guangzhou metro adds contactless payment for foreign cards, China Daily, retrieved
  5. Guangzhou Metro Guide 2026, Wander in China, retrieved
  6. Canton Fair Transport 2026, Wander in China, retrieved
  7. Canton Fair (Guangzhou International), Guangzhou municipal government, retrieved
  8. 140th Canton Fair Closes with Record Overseas Buyer Attendance, Canton Fair organiser (via PR Newswire), retrieved
  9. Top Guangzhou attractions, China Culture Tour, retrieved