The most popular way to see the city is by walking! There is even a designated tourist walking road, Zhongshan 6 Road, which will take you round most of the major tourist attractions of Guangzhou. There are also regular public bus services and tour buses that you can take advantage of. For the utmost convenience, visitors can also take the subway, though in the humid summer months walking can be more pleasant.
Getting from the Airport to the City
Flights to Guangzhou are served by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which is second only to Hong Kong in terms of size as a Chinese airport. The airport is located 17 miles from the city centre, and there are regular shuttle buses to the centre itself and to specific hotels in the city too. Take the Airport Express bus or the Metro for a convenient ride into the city. Though they take the same time as the metro, taxis will be slightly more expensive; bear in mind, too, that local taxi charges also involve an additional toll fee for entering the city.
Guangzhou airport overview
One of the three largest airports in China, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is located 28km (17 miles) from central Guangzhou. About 41 million passengers used the airport in 2010 flying from (and to) more than 100 domestic and international destinations.
Although there is a new terminal, chaos and disorganisation are big problems at Guangzhou Baiyun International. Smoking areas are in close proximity to child-care rooms and water dispensers, and ventilation is poor. Food prices are generally high, even by airport standards.
Fortunately, a major construction project that is set to improve efficiency throughout all operations is underway. When the entire multi-phase project is complete, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport will be able to handle 75 million passengers annually.