Layover in Guangzhou

Flights to Asia. So desired and so long. The alluring Seoul with kimchi and idol concerts. Cherry blossoms in Japan. The coasts of Thailand and the Philippines with waves and snorkeling. And amidst all this – China and its airports, where you can and should make a layover. For example, if you booked tickets to Bali. One of the busiest airports in this region is Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. You can find many reviews about layovers there online. Some were satisfied with their experience, some were not, but the hub's infrastructure is constantly evolving, so let's talk about the facts – what you can do at Guangzhou Airport during a layover, how and why.

About the airport

Baiyun is a relatively young airport. It replaced its namesake predecessor in 2004 and became the base airport for China Southern Airlines.

Terminal 1 serves domestic and international flights, Terminal 2 has an area of over 658,700 sq.m. and includes an integrated transportation center. It was designed to increase the airport's capacity to 80 million passengers per year. Terminal 3 opened on October 30, 2025, with an area of over 422,000 sq.m. Its architectural form resembles a blooming flower. After all, Guangzhou is the "City of Flowers". China Eastern Airlines (domestic only), Shanghai Airlines, China United Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, and Okay Airways have moved their flights here. With its opening, the annual passenger traffic will exceed 120 million people. A free shuttle bus runs between Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

What documents are needed to go into the city

For Russian citizens – only a foreign passport! Since mid-September 2025, when China introduced a trial period of visa-free entry, visiting the country has become much simpler. Previously, a transit visa was required.

How to get from Guangzhou Airport to the city center

There are three options – metro, buses, taxis.

Metro

Baiyun and Guangzhou are connected by the third (orange) metro line, which runs through the city center. This line connects the airport with important points such as Tianhe, Guangzhou East Railway Station, and Zhujiang New Town. The airport has two stations – Airport South and Airport North. The entrance is located in the center of the building on the first floor. To travel, you need to purchase a single-use token from the machines before the turnstiles. For convenience, the interface can be switched to the English version. The machines accept cash, Alipay and WeChat Pay. Guangzhou Metro operates from 06:00 to 23:30.

Currently, there is no direct metro line connection to Terminal 3. Passengers heading here can use the free inter-terminal shuttle bus or the railway from Terminals 1 and 2, or take a bus from Gaozeng Station on Guangzhou Metro Line 3.

Buses

The airport and the city are connected by several bus routes – five Airport Express lines and six Airport Non-stop lines (non-stop to the final destination). From here, you can reach several well-known chain hotels, railway stations, and shopping centers. The fare depends on the destination; for example, from Baiyun Airport to the Hampton by Hilton hotel in Wenchun, Huangpu, you can get there for 45 yuan. For the city center, it's better to choose routes 7C and 7A. Stops can be found by following the signs. The journey will take from 30 to 70 minutes. Buses also transport passengers to Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, and other cities.

Taxi

On average, a taxi ride to Guangzhou will take about an hour and cost around 120 yuan.

Where taxis stop at Terminal 1: arrivals hall, Zone A, near exit A9; arrivals hall, Zone B, parking P5.

At Terminal 2: GTC transport center (East), near exits 53 and 50.

At Terminal 3: near exits 72 and 75.

What to do during a layover at the airport

The most obvious option, which even airport staff will encourage you to do, is not to stay put, but to go into the city. And the more time you have between flights, the more justified this decision seems. However, if you have 6-7 hours or less until your next flight, you can safely plan a walk around Baiyun Airport and explore what it has to offer.

Shopping

A large airport means great shopping opportunities. The three terminals feature all kinds of stores – from international luxury brands like Gucci, Kenzo, and Guerlain to familiar Asian convenience stores like 7 Eleven and FamilyMart. Interestingly, there's an American lululemon, not available in our latitudes, and Diptyque with its complex fragrances. After shopping, don't forget to arrange for Tax Free!

Dining

Cafes and restaurants are generously scattered across the three terminals. Most of them are purely Asian establishments with predictably very spicy food. But there are also options more suitable for European tastes – the usual Subway, McDonald's, Starbucks, KFC.

Rest and Relaxation

Guangzhou Airport has several lounges, mainly belonging to Chinese airlines – China Southern Airlines, Air China, Shenzhen Airlines. Terminal 2 features the Easy Boarding lounge – Baiyun Airport's own brand.

Where else can you spend time? You can climb the observation tower in Terminal 3. It is located in the western part, and its height is 42.6 meters.

Located on the fourth floor of the departure hall, the shopping center Bay Area Plaza boasts a massive 180,000 sq. m. ceiling with a wood-like texture. The three-dimensional curved ceiling structure includes skylights with perforated aluminum sunshades that diffuse light, creating a soft, natural ambiance. The plaza is equipped with lighting and sound equipment, allowing for various cultural events throughout the year.

On the first floor of Terminal 3 is the Garden of East and West. This 9,400 sq.m. area combines natural beauty, cultural symbolism, and captivating design. Here you'll find several arched installations surrounded by interactive water features, the "Silk Road Flower Island" with plants from five continents, and the "Mysterious Valley Forest" with a children's playground and vertical landscaping.

Stylish, smoothly shaped chairs are installed in key areas of Terminal 3. They emphasize diversity, comfort, aesthetics, durability, and design flexibility. In the check-in hall, sofa chairs echo the architectural curves of the terminal.

But the most interesting part is the observation deck. It is also located in Terminal 3 and is China's first open-air observation deck within an airport zone. From here, you can watch planes land and take off from a close distance.

Wi-Fi

The airport offers wireless internet access. The network you need is Airport-free WIFI. To connect, open any web page in your browser and choose authentication via terminal or via WeChat. The first method is more suitable for passengers from other countries. The system will scan your passport and boarding pass and issue a verification code to connect to Wi-Fi.

Additional Features

A Chinese airport wouldn't be a Chinese airport if it didn't offer passengers various additional bonuses. For example, the “Convenience Box” – a "box of conveniences": at each information desk, there's a special box with items that might be needed during travel. It contains plasters, paper clips, pencils, glue, erasers, pens, sewing kits, and stickers.

Additionally, all three terminals at Baiyun Airport have drinking water dispensers, including hot water! This means you can buy instant noodles at a 7 Eleven, go to a dispenser, prepare them, and eat, saving a decent amount on a cafe lunch. Look for these dispensers near restrooms.

Overnight layover in Guangzhou

The airport complex includes two hotels – Pullman and Novotel. A 24-hour shuttle bus runs between the hotels and terminals. Two more, Days Inn and Ausotel Smart, are located near the airport. For tourists choosing to stay there, a free shuttle service is also available. The Pullman features a spa, fitness center, and outdoor pool.

Terminal 2 also has a capsule hotel with individual sleeping pods. Payment here is hourly: you pay for how long you sleep. There are also free sleeping areas, but spots fill up quickly, so we advise not to hesitate.