Guide · Verified 2026-07-20
Your First Hour at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
Baiyun (CAN) is mid-renovation in 2026 — one whole terminal is closed, and the newest one doesn't have its own metro stop yet. Here's what that actually means for your first hour on the ground.
Which terminal am I at?
Terminal 1 closed for renovation on May 7, 2026, and hasn't reopened as of this guide's verification date — all current arrivals use Terminal 2 or Terminal 3. Check your boarding pass rather than assuming; the two terminals sit well apart and aren't a quick walk between. Terminal 3 is the newer building but doesn't yet have its own metro station — more on that below.
Immigration and customs
The process matches other major Chinese airports: fill out the arrival card on the plane if the crew hands one out, then most foreign arrivals aged 14+ stop at an automated fingerprint-and-photo kiosk before the immigration counter itself. Baggage claim follows, then customs — take the green channel with nothing to declare. Budget 30–60 minutes door to door under normal conditions, longer if several wide-body flights land close together. (Full step-by-step, including what the arrival card asks for, is in our Beijing & Shanghai arrival guide — the mechanics are identical here.)
Getting connected
Both open terminals have China Unicom or China Mobile counters past customs selling tourist SIM cards, passport required by law. An eSIM installed before you fly skips that line entirely — land already connected.
Baiyun Airport to the city center
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 3 | ¥7–14 | ~50–60 min to Tianhe CBD | Cheapest option; boards from Terminal 2 — from Terminal 3, ride the free intercity train to T2 first (~5 min) |
| Taxi / DiDi | ¥120–180 | 40–60 min | Add ~30% between 23:00–05:00; easiest with luggage, taxi ranks are outside both T2 and T3 arrivals |
| Intercity train to Guangzhou South | ¥5–20 | ~28 min from T3 | Useful if you're continuing onward by high-speed rail rather than heading into the city center |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Terminal 1 open at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport?
- No — Terminal 1 closed for renovation on May 7, 2026, and remains closed as of this guide's verification date. All arrivals currently use Terminal 2 or Terminal 3; check your boarding pass or airline confirmation for which one, since the two aren't within walking distance of each other.
- Can I take the metro directly from Terminal 3?
- Not yet — Terminal 3 has no metro station of its own. Take the free intercity train to Terminal 2 (about 5 minutes, sometimes listed as a nominal ¥5 fare) and pick up Metro Line 3 from there, or go straight for a taxi from T3's own rank if you'd rather skip the transfer.
- How do I get from Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou South Railway Station?
- The intercity train from Terminal 3 reaches Guangzhou South in about 28 minutes — the most direct route if you're connecting onward by high-speed rail rather than staying in Guangzhou. From Terminal 2, you'd go via Metro Line 3 with a transfer instead.
- Is a taxi or DiDi worth it over the metro?
- For luggage or a late arrival, yes — a taxi runs 40–60 minutes and costs noticeably more than the metro, but skips the T3-to-T2 transfer question entirely and drops you at your door. Night arrivals (23:00–05:00) pay roughly 30% more on the meter, which is still often worth it over waiting for infrequent late-night trains.
Verified 2026-07-20. Terminal status, fares, and transit times change — always check current signage on arrival. Tell us if something here is out of date. Photo: Windmemories, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.