Guangzhou East Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
A busy station in Tianhe, central Guangzhou, for trains to Shenzhen and Hong Kong and high-speed trains east. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 广州东站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | Trains to Shenzhen on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen railway, high-speed trains to Hong Kong West Kowloon, and high-speed trains to Huizhou, Shanwei, Shantou, Ganzhou, Nanchang, Hangzhou and Shanghai |
| Metro | Lines 1 and 3 (north branch, to the airport), underground |
| Arrive | 45 minutes to an hour before departure (an hour for Hong Kong trains) |
Departing from Guangzhou East Railway Station
- Getting in. The railway, metro and bus terminal form one complex, with the trains at ground level and the metro below. Use the staffed lane at the ID check and at the gate. The passport you booked with is your ticket: use the staffed lane, where it is checked against your booking, unless signs say the automatic gates take passports.
- Security. Bags go through an X-ray right after the ID check, and you walk through a scanner.
- The waiting hall. Waiting areas are by train; the boards show yours. Find your train number on the departure boards; boarding usually starts 15 to 20 minutes before departure and the gate closes a few minutes before.
- The platform. Your coach number (车厢) is printed on the floor markings and over the doors; stand at yours, as trains stop only briefly.
Arriving at Guangzhou East Railway Station
Arrivals exits lead down to the metro concourse; follow signs for the metro, buses and taxis.
Taxi and Didi: Follow 出租车 signs to the taxi pickup area; ride-hail (网约车) pickup is signposted separately.
Tips
- On Hong Kong trains you clear both border checks at West Kowloon, not in Guangzhou.
- Line 3 north branch runs to Baiyun Airport T2 in about 40 minutes.
- The station is being rebuilt (work runs to 2031), but it stays open; expect hoardings and detours outside.
- Guangzhou South (广州南) and Guangzhou Station (广州) are different stations. Check your ticket.
Next steps
- Paying for the metro and buses in Guangzhou
- Also in Guangzhou: Guangzhou South Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
- Also in Guangzhou: Guangzhou Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: m.gmw.cn, en.wikipedia.org, wanderinchina.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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