Located in the Huadu district, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is the main airport serving the city of Guangzhou and is a modern facility having opened in 2004. The airport is a hub for China Airlines and the chief gateway to the Guangdong province of China.

The single terminal currently has a capacity for 27 million passengers per year but this is set to increase to 80 million by the year 2010. Over 100 destinations are served by the airport with a large percentage of these being domestic locations. 

Facilities at the airport include ATMs and post office, shops, restaurants, bars and a business centre. A first-aid room can also be found, on the first floor of the terminal building.

For ground transportation, there are a total of seven bus routes available from outside of the terminal to various key destinations in the city. The alternative is to take a taxi which can be found outside the Arrivals area of the terminal. Some hotels may offer free shuttles for those with reservations; be sure to check when you book your room.

Guangzhou has an impressive public transportation infrastructure which makes the process of getting around fairly uncomplicated and stress-free. Signs at public transportation terminals are invariably in Chinese only so this is one hurdle you will need to overcome if you are to make the best of the options available.

A metro system, which opened in 1999, provides coverage of a reasonable proportion of the city’s main destinations. There are currently a total of four lines operating however this is set to expand.

Public bus services cover the city from one end to the other and are by far the cheapest way of getting around. There are older buses and newer air-conditioned buses in operation with the former offering cheaper rides than the latter.

Taxis are quite reasonably priced in Guangzhou and offer a comfortable and convenient means of getting around. Few taxi drivers speak English so it’s wise to have your destination written in Chinese to show them at the beginning of your journey. A taxi hotline exists and is accessed by calling 96900.

Avis and Hertz offer car rental facilities in Guangzhou however driving in the city can be something of an overwhelming experience and is certainly not for the fainthearted.