Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Guangzhou Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
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I saw a few of the local chinese passengers enter the black flaps where the luggage comes out from. A short while later, they emerged with their luggages, dusted themselves and moved off. – a traveller
Guangzhou Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
What to Expect
Guangzhou Airport (Code: CAN) has two terminals. Terminal 1 is the oldest and has two concourses (A and B). Terminal 2 opened in 2018 and is one of the largest terminals in the world. Despite its size, travellers report a relative scarcity of eateries, shops and related services. Eateries close by about 11:00 PM, so plan accordingly if you stay overnight. WiFi is available, and additional comfort can be found through fee-based access to one of the airport’s many first-class lounges.
Sleeping in Guangzhou Airport
Expect a decent amount of seating, including armrest-free options scattered throughout the airport. Because the airport operates around the clock, plenty of overnight sleepers exist. Arrive early for your pick of sleeping spots. If you wind up sleeping on the cold floor, an extra layer or two provides much-needed warmth and added softness. Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:
- The Departure Hall, near the H and J counters.
- The restaurant level, one level below Departures, seems to have a fair share of good seating, and it quiets down at night when most eateries close. Try the escalator near Gates 11-12.
Bring earplugs/noise-cancelling headphones and warm clothes or a travel blanket to ward off noise and cold temperatures.
For uninterrupted sleep, there is a 70-room hourly hotel in the airport’s departures hall and other hotels nearby. See locations in the Airport Hotels section below.
Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Guangzhou Airport Guide.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Cots
The airport does not provide cots to stranded travellers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels and sleep lounges at Guangzhou Airport and some nearby hotels:
- Aerotel Guangzhou – Located inside Terminal 2, Airside, International Departures. Private relaxation cabins have single or double beds and shared or private showers according to room category. » Check Rates
- Hourly Passenger Lounge – Located inside Terminal 1, Departures Hall, on B1. This mini-hotel contains 70 guest rooms (12 First Class and 58 Business Class). Each guest room has a single or double bed, desk, TV, Wi-Fi, battery charging, and drinking water. Facilities include showers and baggage storage.
- Business Class Room – Hourly Room: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM @ RMB25 per hour to a max of RMB100; 4:00 PM -8:00 AM @ RMB50 per hour for the first four hours and RMB25 per hour from the fifth hour until 8:00 AM to a max of RMB260.
- Pullman Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Hotel – This hotel is connected to Terminal 1 via a walkway from Gate 12 of the Departure Hall. From Terminal 2, take the shuttle bus from Gate 46. Day rooms are available for stays up to 6 hours from 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM. » Check Rates
Hotels near the airport
- Southern Airline Pearl Hotel – A free airport shuttle is available upon request. » Check Rates
- Ausotel Smart Baiyun Airport – A free airport shuttle is available upon request. » Check Rates
China Southern Airlines provides free hotel accommodation to passengers with a transfer time of 8 hours or longer in Guangzhou. First, Business and Sky Pearl Gold members will be provided 4 or 5-star hotel accommodation, while Economy and Premium Economy passengers will receive 4-star hotel accommodation. On arrival at Guangzhou, you should proceed to the Transfer Desk, where an agent will prepare a voucher. In addition to the hotel, you will receive breakfast (if applicable) and transportation to/from the hotel. For more info, visit the China Southern website, call 0086-20-8612 4008 or email nhzz@csair.com. Additionally, if you have access to the China Southern Business Class Lounge, a reviewer mentioned that bedrooms are available for use. Staff members can provide you with a key.
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Guangzhou Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
Domestic Departures
- Air China Premium Lounge – Location: Airside, Departures Level 3, near Gates A113 – A123. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- China Eastern First Class Lounge – Location: Airside, Departures Level 3, near Gates A13 – A18 and A124 – A133. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Vip Lounge – Location: Terminal 2, Airside, Level 3. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs. Hours: 5:45 AM – 9:00 PM.
- Premium Lounge – Location: Multiple Locations in Terminal 1 & 2. . Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
International Departures
- China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Vip Lounge – Location: Terminal 2, Airside, Level 4. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs. Hours: 4:30 AM – last flight.
- Library Lounge – Location: Airside, Level 4. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- Premium Lounge – Location: Multiple Locations in Terminal 1 & 2. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- Easy-Boarding Lounge – Location: Terminal 2, Airside, 3rd Floor. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs. Hours: 6:30 AM – 9:30 PM.
Related Pages: Guangzhou Airport Lounges
Drinking Water
Thirsty? Drinking water fountains are available free of charge. Locations: Airside, near the departure gates.
Food & Drinks
When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors:
- Terminal 1 KFC and Xiao Noodles (1st floor of the main building)
- Terminal 2: KFC and Xiao Noodles (4th floor) ▪ KFC (1st Floor, Gate 50, Domestic Arrivals)
Luggage Storage
At one point, there were six luggage storage locations: Domestic baggage hall (Gate 16) ▪ International departure hall (Gate 8) ▪ Domestic arrival hall zone B (2 locations) ▪ International arrival hall (2 locations). We could not confirm this at the time of our September 2023 update. If you know whether they are still there, click here to update this guide.
Mobile Charging
Charging stations are located throughout both terminals.
- Terminal 1: 3rd Floor, Check-ins ▪ 1st Floor, Gate 21, 22, 27, 28.
- Terminal 2: under most passenger seats
Showers
Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Head to the pay-to-use Premium Lounge in the International Terminal. See Airport Lounges above.
WiFi/Internet
Free WiFi is available at Guangzhou Airport. Connect to the “airport-free WIFI” network. You will be asked to authenticate yourself every five hours. This can be done by mobile phone, WeChat, or at the number retrieval machines through your passport, ID card, or boarding pass. Retrieval machines are located throughout both terminals. Locations: Terminal 1, (3) East One Corridor, near the service desk; (1) East One Corridor, near Gate A01; (2) East Two Corridor, near Gate A113; (1) East Two Corridor, near Gate A07, (1) International Arrivals.
Security & Safety
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Guangzhou Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
More Airport Information
Business Center – At one point, limited business services and complimentary coffee and tea used to be available at the Golden Century Business Center located at the Main Terminal Southeast Region. We could not confirm this at the time of our September 2023 update. If you know whether they are still there, click here to update this guide.
Dressing Rooms – After a long flight, you may want to change from your flight clothes to streetwear or business attire. Instead of changing your clothes in the bathroom, there are dressing rooms that allow you to do so in a more comfortable environment. Equipped with mirrors, tables, chairs and hooks, you will find changing rooms in the following locations:
- Terminal 1: 2nd Floor, East Three Corridor ▪ 1st Floor, West One Arrival Area ▪ First Floor, West Three Arrival Area ▪ 1st Floor, East Three Arrival Area.
- Terminal 2: (2) Domestic Baggage Claim ▪ (2) International Baggage Claim ▪ (1) 2nd Floor, North Corridor ▪ (1) 2nd Floor, West Corridor ▪ (1) 2nd Floor, East Six Corridor ▪ (1) 3rd Floor, East Corridor.
Family Services
- Strollers – Baby strollers are available to use for free throughout the airport.
- Mobility Services– Free electromobile pick-up service is available for passengers in need, such as pregnant, elderly, passengers with children, and those who are physically challenged when moving around.
- Dedicated area for nursing, feeding, reading and playing with children, as well as for sleeping and other functional activities for kids. Locations:
- Terminal 1: near all washrooms in the Departure Hall ▪ 3rd Floor, East Three Corridor, near VIP Lounge ▪ 3rd Floor, West One Corridor ▪ 3rd Floor, West Two Corridor, Air China Lounge ▪ 3rd Floor, West Three Corridor.
- Terminal 2: near all washrooms in the Departure Hall ▪ 2nd Floor, north corridor (Near Gate B173) ▪ 2nd Floor, west corridor (Near Gate B50) ▪ East corridor ( Near Gate 155).
Information Desk – Four Information Desks are available. Services such as document printing, scanning, faxing, visa, insurance, or air ticket booking can be found at the Information desk. Locations:
- Terminal 1: near Gate 2, 6, 7, 9, 20, 29 ▪ opposite Gate E3, W1, and W3.
- Terminal 2: Domestic Area, near Gates K35 and K26 ▪ International Area, near Gates L01 and L36
Luggage
- Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available.
- Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
- Luggage wrapping – Luggage wrapping services are available in both terminals. Locations:
- Terminal 1: near Gate 2 (Hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM) ▪ near Gate 6 (Hours: 24 hours) ▪ near Gate 11(Hours: 24 hours) ▪ near Gate 15 (Hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM).
- Terminal 2: near Gate 42 ▪ near Gate 45 ▪ near Gate 47 (Hours: 24 hours).
Massage Chairs – At one point, multipoint electronic massage chairs were available in the Chen Yi Massage Chair Experience Center. We could not confirm this at the time of our September 2023 update. If you know whether they are still there, click here to update this guide.
Medical Services
- Medical Services – Urgent and emergency medical care are available from any of the three locations:
- Terminal 1: 3rd Floor, near International Check-ins ▪ 3rd Floor, West Two Corridor ▪ 1st Floor, near Gate 27 ▪ near Gate A102 ▪ near Gate A125. Hours: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Terminal 2: 2nd Floor, Domestic Arrivals ▪ 1st Floor, Domestic Baggage Claim ▪ 2nd Floor, Conjunction between North and West Corridors. Hours: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
- Pharmacy – Location: Tong Ren Tang – Terminal 1, Airside, near Gate A133 (Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM), Terminal 2, Airside, near Gate A152 (7:00 AM – 10:00 PM), Terminal 2, Airside, 2nd Floor (7:00 AM – 10:00 PM) ▪ Jianmin Pharmacy – Terminal 2, 1st Floor, Domestic Arrivals, near Gate 50 (7:00 AM – 10:00 PM) ▪ Da Shen Lin Drug Store – Terminal 1, 1st Floor, near Gate 22 (Hours: Unknown)
Money
- ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs, operated by China Guangfa Bank and Agricultural Bank Of China, are available 24 hours a day. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Terminal 1, 3rd Floor, Departure Hall, near Gate 8 ▪ Terminal 1, Departure Hall, near Gate 16 ▪ Terminal 1, 1st Floor, near Gate 21 ▪ Terminal 2, 3rd Floor, Departure Hall. (Hours: 24 hours).
- Banking – China Guangfa Bank – Terminal 1, Gate 16, Departure Hall (24 hours), Terminal 2, 3rd Floor, Departure Hall (24 hours) • Agricultural Bank of China – Gate 8, Departure Hall (24 hours).
- Currency Exchange – Foreign exchange services are available in several locations. Ice Currency Exchange – Terminal 1, Arrivals Hall ▪ Terminal 1, Departure Hall (Hours: 24 hours). United Money Currency Exchange – Terminal 1, 3rd Floor (Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM) ▪ Fanghui Currency Exchange – (2) Terminal 1, 3rd Floor (Hours: 24 hours) ▪ Terminal 1, 1st Floor, International Arrivals, opposite Gate 53 (Hours: 6:00 AM – 1:30 AM) ▪ Terminal 1, East One Corridor, Area A (Hours: 24 hours) ▪ Terminal 1, Arrival Hall, near Gate A5 (Hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM).
- TAX Refunds – Get your VAT Refund at the two Tax Refund Counters. Locations: Terminal 1, 3rd Floor, East Corridor (Hours: 24 hours) • Terminal 2, Airside, International Departure Area.
Movie Theatre – A movie theatre used to be available on the 1st Floor of the Main Terminal. Unfortunately, we could not confirm this at the time of our September 2023 update. If you know whether they are still there, click here to update this guide.
Police & Security – A police station can be found in both terminals. Locations: Terminal 1, 3rd Floor, Departure Hall, near Gate 1(Hours: 5:00 AM – 12:00 AM) ▪ Terminal 2, 3rd Floor, near Check-in Area H (Hours: 5:00 AM – 12:00 AM).
Post Office – Two locations are available. Main Terminal, 3rd Floor, near Gate 9 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM) ▪ Main Terminal, Area D/E, Check-in Hall, 3rd Floor (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM).
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Shopping – Duty-free shopping and various retail shops and convenience stores are available.
Showers – Showers are available in several lounges. [ see Airport Lounges above ]
Smoking Areas – The airport is equipped with a total of 16 smoking rooms. Ten of these are located in Terminal 1, and the remaining six are in Terminal 2.
Spa & Salon Services – Foot or body massage, beauty salon services and more are available at Caven Beauty – Terminal 2, 4th Floor (open 24 hours).
Car Rentals
Car rental agencies can be found in the following locations: Terminal 1, Arrivals, near Gate 7 (Hours: 7:30 AM – 2:00 AM) • Terminal 1, Arrivals, near Gate 10 (Hours: 7:30 AM – last flight). • Terminal 2, near Gate 51 and 53 (Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM).
City Buses
Four Airport Express lines connect Baiyun Airport to the city centre, departing in 20 – 30 minute intervals. These buses stop at major hotels, bus and railway stations, and the Grand Plaza and transportation centre. Connections to Zengcheng and Conghua are also available via local bus.
Hotel Shuttles
A few hotels provide airport shuttle service: Ausotel Smart Baiyun Airport • Pullman Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Hotel • Southern Airline Pearl Hotel.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Inter-Terminal Shuttle
The airport provides a free metro service between the two terminals.
Intracity Buses
There are just under 20 scheduled round-trip intercity bus services linking the airport to Dongguan, Foshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shenzhen, Shunde, Taishan and more. Travel times vary, but buses depart hourly from various gates at the airport’s Arrivals lobby. Visit the Airport Intercity Bus Ticket Counter for details and tickets.
Metro / Subway
Guangzhou Metro Line 3 links the airport (to the Tianhe District in Guangzhou city centre (Tiyu Xilu Station), with several stops along the way, including Guangzhou East Railway Station. The airport has two main metro stations: Airport South Station, in Terminal 1, and Airport North Station, in Terminal 2. Transfers are available at Jia He Wang Gang metro stop to Metro Line 2, connecting to Guangzhou Southern Railway Station, served by high-speed intercity trains to and from Wuhan, Zhuhai and other cities.
Taxis
Metered taxis are available. Taxi stops can be found in Terminal 1, Arrival Area A, outside Gate A5 and A12, and in Arrival Area B, outside Gate B4 and B5. In Terminal 2, passengers can get a taxi outside the International Arrival Hall, near Gate 53.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.