Guangzhou Baiyun International (CAN)
Terminal 1 has closed and Terminal 3 now handles every international flight. Here is which terminal you need, how to reach the city, and what changed.
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What changed at Guangzhou Airport in 2026
Terminal 1 is closed
Terminal 1 ceased operations at 02:00 on 7 May 2026 after nearly 22 years, and entered a multi-year renovation. Every airline that used T1 has moved to Terminal 3 or Terminal 2.
The Airport South metro station and the Baiyun Airport South intercity rail station, which both served T1, are now non-stopping stations. Trains pass straight through. The T1 car parks P1 to P4 are also closed.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport now runs as a two-terminal operation, even though three terminal buildings exist. Terminal 3 opened on 30 October 2025 alongside a fifth runway, and Baiyun became the first airport in China to operate three terminals and five runways. Any guide, map, or booking confirmation written before 2026 that sends you to T1 is out of date.
The airport handled 83.58 million passengers in 2025, its first year above 80 million, with more than 16.6 million of those on international routes. That put it ninth in the world by passenger traffic and pushed the expansion that caused all of these changes.
Terminals
Which terminal do you need?
Your terminal depends on the airline that actually operates the flight, not the airline you booked with. On a codeshare, check the operating carrier. Your boarding pass will print T2 or T3.
Terminal 2
The China Southern terminal. Rated a five-star terminal by Skytrax, and the only terminal with a metro station directly underneath it.
- Main airlines
- China Southern and its affiliates, plus Loong Air, Chengdu Airlines and 9 Air
- Flights
- Domestic and international
- Metro
- Airport North station, Line 3, on level B1 inside the terminal
Terminal 3
Opened October 2025 and now the busiest of the two. Handles all international flights except those operated by China Southern from T2.
- Main airlines
- Most non-China Southern carriers, including Air China, China Eastern, Hainan, Shenzhen Airlines, Spring, Juneyao and the foreign carriers
- Flights
- All international and regional flights, plus most domestic
- Metro
- None. Use the intercity railway station inside T3, or the shuttle from Gaozeng station
Terminal 1
Closed on 7 May 2026 for renovation. No flights, no check-in, no rail access. Do not travel here.
- Status
- Closed indefinitely for facility upgrades
- Rail
- Airport South metro and rail stations both suspended
Terminal 3 check-in islands. International and regional flights use islands G, H and K. Domestic flights use islands C, D and E. Domestic check-in closes 40 minutes before departure and boarding gates close 15 minutes before departure, which is tighter than many travellers expect.
Getting to the city
Guangzhou Airport to the city centre
The airport sits roughly 28 km north of central Guangzhou. Your best option now depends entirely on which terminal you land in, because only Terminal 2 has a metro station.
| Option | Cost | Time | Terminal | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 3 | Around ¥7 to ¥10 | 45 to 50 min to Tiyu Xilu | T2 only | Cheapest, and immune to traffic |
| Intercity railway | From around ¥5 | 5 min to T2, around 28 min to Guangzhou South | T3 only | Leaving T3, or heading out of the city |
| Airport express bus | Around ¥20 to ¥32 | 45 to 90 min | T2 and T3 | Heavy luggage, late arrivals, hotel-door routes |
| Taxi | Around ¥100 to ¥150 | 35 to 55 min off-peak | T2 and T3 | Groups, late nights, direct door to door |
| DiDi ride-hailing | Usually slightly under taxi fare | 35 to 55 min off-peak | T2 and T3 | Anyone with the app and a working payment method |
Leaving from Terminal 2
Follow signs down to level B1 for Airport North station on Metro Line 3. Trains run roughly every 5 to 10 minutes from about 06:00 until 23:30, and go direct to Tiyu Xilu in the Tianhe business district in about 45 minutes.
For the older centre around Beijing Road, change at Jiahewanggang onto Line 2. Ticket machines have an English interface but generally accept only coins and small notes.
Leaving from Terminal 3
There is no metro at T3 and the Line 22 extension that will eventually serve it has not opened. Do not go looking for a subway entrance.
Instead, follow signs to the Ground Transportation Center on level B2 for Baiyun Airport East intercity rail station. From there it is about 5 minutes to Airport North under T2, where you can pick up Metro Line 3, or around 28 minutes direct to Guangzhou South Railway Station.
Coming the other way? To reach Terminal 3 by public transport, take Metro Line 3 or Line 9 to Gaozeng station, leave by Exit B, and board the free dedicated T3 shuttle bus. The run is about 6 km and takes roughly 15 minutes, with buses every 15 to 20 minutes. Ride-hailing pickups are at car park P8 for T2 and P12 for T3.
Connections
Transferring between terminals
T2 and T3 are far apart. If you land at the wrong one, budget real time to fix it.
Free inter-terminal shuttle
A free shuttle bus loops between terminals 24 hours a day. Stops are at Gate 42 in T2 departures and Gate 62 in T3 departures.
- Every 10 minutes at peak, 22:00 to 03:00
- Every 20 minutes from 08:00 to 22:00
- Every 30 minutes off-peak, 03:00 to 08:00
Intercity train
The quickest link is the intercity railway: one stop between Baiyun Airport East under T3 and Baiyun Airport North under T2, taking around 5 minutes for roughly ¥5. Check timetables on 12306 or the Guangdong Intercity site, since trains are far less frequent than the metro.
Minimum connection time. With the 2026 reshuffle still settling, allow at least two hours for any international connection, and considerably more if you are self-connecting on separate tickets across terminals with checked bags.
Entry rules
Visa-free entry at Guangzhou Baiyun
Baiyun is one of China's designated visa-free ports, and for most visitors this is now the single biggest change to how a trip to Guangzhou works. Two separate schemes may apply to you.
30-day unilateral visa-free entry
Ordinary passport holders from a long list of countries, covering most of Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Canada and several South American and Gulf states, can enter for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit with no application at all.
The scheme has been extended for most countries to 31 December 2026. It cannot be extended once you are inside China, and it does not cover study or work.
240-hour visa-free transit
If your nationality is not on the 30-day list, including US passport holders, you may still qualify for 240-hour, or 10-day, visa-free transit. Guangzhou Baiyun is an approved port.
The catch is that you must be genuinely transiting to a third country or region. You need a confirmed onward ticket out of mainland China departing within 240 hours, and returning to the country you came from does not qualify. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan do count as third regions.
Verify before you fly. Eligible country lists and port lists have changed several times, and immigration officers check the onward ticket at the counter, so carry the confirmed booking as a PDF rather than a screenshot of a search page. Confirm your own eligibility with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country before travelling.
On the ground
Facilities and services
Wi-Fi and connectivity
Free airport Wi-Fi is available, though registration usually needs a phone number that can receive an SMS code. A roaming plan or eSIM bought before arrival saves a lot of friction.
Lounges
Both open terminals have airline and pay-per-use lounges. In T2, note that gates in the distant B236 to B250 area are around a 15-minute walk from security, and lounges there are a fair distance too.
Smart terminal features
Terminal 3 was built around biometric check-in and boarding and automated baggage systems, and includes an open-air observation deck, the first at a Chinese airport.
Onward to the Bay Area
The intercity rail link at T3 connects to Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Zhaoqing and Qingyuan, which makes Baiyun a practical entry point for the whole Pearl River Delta, not just Guangzhou.
Language help
Information desks in both terminals have English-speaking staff. Signage throughout is bilingual, and the airport recommends Amap, Baidu Maps or Tencent Maps for accurate navigation to T3.
Layovers and hotels
Several hotels sit within the airport area with shuttle connections, and the Pullman is the closest option to Terminal 2. If your layover crosses the metro's midnight shutdown, an airport hotel usually beats a late taxi into town. Compare airport hotels.
Practical
Arriving at Guangzhou Airport, step by step
Confirm your terminal the day before
Check your boarding pass or the operating airline, not the ticket seller. T2 and T3 are far apart and the free shuttle costs you 20 to 40 minutes if you get it wrong.
Have your entry paperwork ready
If you are using 240-hour transit, have the onward ticket saved offline. The e-arrival card system has cut paperwork considerably, but the onward ticket is still checked at the counter.
Sort payment before you leave the terminal
Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept foreign cards, and setting one up in the arrivals hall while you still have Wi-Fi is easier than doing it at a taxi rank. Keep some cash for metro ticket machines.
Avoid rush hour with luggage
Metro Line 3 between roughly 07:30 and 09:00 and again from 17:30 to 19:00 gets dense enough that boarding with large suitcases becomes genuinely difficult. Take an express bus or taxi instead.
Book early around the Canton Fair
During the fair in April and May and again in October and November, flights and city hotels fill fast and prices climb. Nearly 540,000 foreign buyers passed through Baiyun during the spring 2026 fair alone.
Common questions
Guangzhou Airport FAQ
Is Terminal 1 at Guangzhou Airport still open?
No. Terminal 1 closed at 02:00 on 7 May 2026 for a multi-year renovation. All of its airlines moved to Terminal 3 or Terminal 2, and the Airport South metro and intercity rail stations that served it are now non-stopping stations.
Does Terminal 3 have a metro station?
No. Metro Line 3 was built for the older terminals and does not reach T3, and the Line 22 extension is not open yet. Use the intercity railway station inside T3, or take Metro Line 3 or Line 9 to Gaozeng station and transfer to the free T3 shuttle bus, which takes about 15 minutes.
How do I get from Guangzhou Airport to downtown?
From Terminal 2, Metro Line 3 runs from Airport North station directly to Tiyu Xilu in about 45 minutes for roughly ¥7 to ¥10. From Terminal 3, take the intercity train to Airport North and change to the metro, or take a taxi or DiDi for around ¥100 to ¥150.
Which terminal handles international flights at Guangzhou?
Terminal 3 handles international and regional flights for most carriers. China Southern and its affiliates operate their international services from Terminal 2. Always check the operating carrier on a codeshare booking.
How far is Guangzhou Airport from the city centre?
Around 28 km north of central Guangzhou, in Baiyun District. Allow 35 to 55 minutes by road off-peak and up to 75 minutes in rush hour.
Can I leave the airport without a Chinese visa?
Often, yes. Passport holders from many countries get 30 days visa-free with no application. Others, including US citizens, may use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme, for which Baiyun is an approved port, provided they hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. Confirm your own eligibility with a Chinese embassy or consulate before you fly.
How long should I allow for a connection at Baiyun?
At least two hours for international connections while the 2026 terminal changes settle, and longer if you are moving between T2 and T3 on separate tickets. Domestic check-in at T3 closes 40 minutes before departure and gates close 15 minutes before.
How many passengers does Guangzhou Baiyun handle?
83.58 million in 2025, the first year it passed 80 million, including more than 16.6 million international passengers. That ranked it ninth busiest in the world.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Terminal assignments at Baiyun are still being adjusted as airlines complete the move out of T1, and fares, timetables and visa rules change without notice.
Always confirm your terminal with your airline and check entry requirements with a Chinese embassy or consulate before travelling. Prices are indicative and quoted in Chinese yuan.
