Arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: T2, T3 and transport (2026)

Most international flights into Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场, CAN) now use the new Terminal 3 (T3); China Southern and some of its partners use Terminal 2 (T2). T3 has no metro station of its own, so the cheapest way into town is the free shuttle bus to Gaozeng station and then Metro Line 3: about 60–75 minutes and roughly ¥7 to Tianhe. A taxi takes 40–60 minutes and costs about ¥100–150.

Which terminal: T2 or T3

Terminal 3 opened on 30 October 2025. On 22 January 2026 the international flights of about 30 foreign airlines, plus those of China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Spring Airlines, moved from Terminal 1 to T3. On 7 May 2026 the last domestic airlines left T1 as well, and T1 is now closed for renovation. The metro station Airport South (机场南) and the intercity station Baiyun Airport South, which served T1, are closed too.

• T3: most foreign airlines and most Chinese airlines other than China Southern. International check-in is at islands G, H and K; domestic check-in at islands C, D and E.
• T2: China Southern, for domestic and international flights, and several of its partner airlines.

Check the terminal on your ticket or in the airline’s app before you travel. A free shuttle bus links T2 and T3 around the clock (about 25 minutes).

Immigration, baggage and customs

1. Arrival card. Since 20 November 2025 you can fill in the arrival card online before you fly: on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) website, in the NIA 12367 app, or in its Alipay and WeChat mini-programs. If you have not done it, scan the QR code in the immigration hall, use the self-service machines or fill in a paper card.
2. Passport control. Foreign visitors queue in the lanes for foreigners. If you are using 240-hour visa-free transit, have your confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region ready; the Baiyun border police issue the transit permit together with your entry. See also visa-free countries and our visa checker.
3. Fingerprints. Foreigners aged 14 to 70 give fingerprints, at the self-service machines or at the desk. Children under 14 and people over 70 are not asked.
4. Baggage reclaim, then customs: walk through the green channel if you have nothing to declare and the red channel if you do.

After customs: SIM, cash, Wi-Fi and luggage

• SIM and eSIM. China Mobile and China Unicom usually have counters in the arrivals area. Bring your passport: SIM cards are registered to your name. An eSIM bought before you fly works as soon as you land; see best eSIM for China and staying online.

• Cash. ATMs of Chinese banks, including Bank of China, take Visa and Mastercard. Exchange counters exist, but their rates are poor. See cash, ATMs and cards.
• Alipay and WeChat Pay. Link your foreign card before you fly. See how to pay in China.
• Wi-Fi. The free airport network sends a login code by SMS. Without a Chinese number, look for a kiosk that scans your passport and prints a code.
• Luggage storage. Ask at an information desk; see luggage storage in China.

Getting into Guangzhou

From T3

• Shuttle bus and metro (cheapest). Follow the signs to the transport centre on the ground floor (1F) and board the 空港2线支线 shuttle to Gaozeng (高增) metro station. It has been free since 6 June 2026, runs every 5–10 minutes, takes about 15 minutes and leaves T3 from 06:35 to 22:40. At Gaozeng take Line 3 south to Tiyu Xilu (体育西路) in Tianhe, where you can change to Line 1. Tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express or JCB card at the gate (accepted on the Guangzhou metro since October 2025), or scan an Alipay or WeChat ride code. Allow 60–75 minutes to Tianhe; the metro fare is about ¥7. See using the metro.
• Intercity train. Baiyun Airport East station (白云机场东站) is on level B2 of the T3 transport centre, a 3–5 minute walk from the terminal. Trains on the Guangzhou East Ring intercity line leave about every 14 minutes and stop at Zhuliao, Longdong, Keyun Lu, Pazhou and Guangzhou South (for high-speed trains), where you can change to the metro.
• Airport express buses (空港快线). Eight routes run from T3 to Tianhe, Yuexiu, Haizhu, Panyu, Huangpu, Liwan, Nansha and Zengcheng Xintang, with fares from ¥19.9. Buy tickets at the counters near the exit with cash, Alipay or WeChat.
• Taxi. Follow the taxi signs on the arrivals level to the official rank, which is staffed 24 hours. Fares are metered; expect about ¥100–150 to the centre including tolls, and 40–60 minutes. Ask for a receipt (发票). See taking a taxi in China.
• DiDi. Ride-hailing pickup at T3 is in car park P12 (levels 1M and 2); choose the pickup point in the app. See how to use DiDi.

From T2

Metro Line 3 starts under T2 at Airport North (机场北), so you can ride straight to Tiyu Xilu without a shuttle, in about 40–50 minutes for about ¥7. Taxis and DiDi work as at T3.

Connecting to a domestic flight

You clear immigration and customs in Guangzhou even if your next flight is domestic. At T2, China Southern passengers go to the international-to-domestic transfer counter on level 1 and then up to level 2 for security; on a single through ticket you may already hold your onward boarding pass. At T3, follow the transfer signs and ask your airline whether your bags are checked through; if not, collect them, clear customs and check in again at the domestic islands. If your two flights use different terminals, add time for the shuttle bus (about 25 minutes). Leave at least three hours between flights and ask your airline for its minimum connecting time.

Flying out of Baiyun

• Go to the right terminal: T2 for China Southern, T3 for most other airlines.
• China Southern closes international check-in 45 minutes before departure; other airlines may close earlier, so check. Domestic check-in at T3 closes 40 minutes before departure and gates close 15 minutes before. Arrive about three hours early for an international flight.
• Tax refund (离境退税). Before you check in any bag with the goods, show your passport, refund forms and the goods at the customs departure declaration counter; tax refund signs are posted throughout T2 and T3. Since 1 July 2026, forms under ¥10,000 are only checked at random. Then collect your money at the refund window; at T2 it is in the shopping area after immigration on level 3. See tax refund for tourists.
• Power banks on domestic flights need a 3C mark; see domestic flights in China.

Show this to the driver

“Please take me to the departures level of Terminal 3 (T3), Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.” Flying with China Southern from T2? Show this instead:

For more useful sentences, see basic Chinese phrases, and for the city itself our Guangzhou guide.