Guangzhou Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
Guangzhou's century-old central station in Yuexiu, rebuilt for high-speed trains and high-speed only for departures since January 2026. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 广州站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | High-speed trains on the Beijing-Guangzhou line (Changsha, Wuhan and beyond), to Zhanjiang and Shantou in Guangdong, and some long-distance routes such as Kunming |
| Metro | Lines 2 and 5, at Guangzhou Railway Station (广州火车站), reached from B1 |
| Arrive | An hour before departure; the square and security lines can be crowded. |
Departing from Guangzhou Railway Station
- Getting in. Enter at ground level from the station square; the east entrance has a covered walkway into the station. 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. The departure hall is on 2F; the boards show your gate. 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.
Food: KFC, McDonald's and noodle shops on 1F and 2F.
Arriving at Guangzhou Railway Station
Arrivals come down to B1, which connects to the metro.
Taxi and Didi: Taxis pick up on the station square; follow 出租车 signs. Ride-hail (网约车) pickup is signposted separately; check the app for the current point.
Tips
- Since January 26, 2026, trains start or end here only if they are high-speed; slower overnight trains moved to Guangzhou Baiyun (广州白云).
- Guangzhou has several big stations: Guangzhou South (广州南), Guangzhou East (广州东) and Guangzhou Baiyun (广州白云). Check that your ticket says 广州.
- Watch your belongings on the crowded square, and ignore touts offering rides.
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 East Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: www.news.cn, www.news.cn, news.ycwb.com, www.chinaairlinetravel.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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