Quick answer
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is CAN (广州白云国际机场). As of 7 May 2026, Terminal 1 is closed; many domestic flights now use Terminal 3. T3 has no direct metro—take Metro Line 3 or Line 9 to Gaozeng, Exit B, then the dedicated airport shuttle (about 15 minutes, 2 yuan). Terminal 2 still has Metro Airport North (Terminal 2) on Line 3 under the terminal. Confirm your terminal on the boarding pass before you follow signs.
If this happens, do this
| Situation | What to do next |
|---|---|
| You land at Terminal 3 | Follow signs to the T3 transportation center; for metro, board the shuttle to Gaozeng at Stop 74, then Line 3 or Line 9. |
| You land at Terminal 2 | Use Metro Airport North (Terminal 2) on Line 3 under T2, or the official taxi / ride-hailing pickup for that terminal. |
| Your boarding pass still says Terminal 1 | T1 is closed as of 7 May 2026; reconfirm the operating terminal with your airline—do not follow old T1 / Airport South directions. |
| You want rail into the city late | Check live boards: shuttle Gaozeng←→T3 has published evening cutoffs; Line 3 last-train times change—recheck at the station. |
| Heavy luggage or a group | Use the official taxi pickup (T3: east and west of the terminal) rather than curb offers. |
See also the China Airport to City Guide.
Confirm airport and terminal (T1 closed; T2 vs T3)
CAN is Guangzhou’s main international airport. It is not Shenzhen, Hong Kong, or Foshan. Guangzhou government English notices (May 2026) state that from 7 May 2026, Terminal 1 closed, 11 domestic airlines moved to Terminal 3, and Metro Airport South Station plus the intercity Baiyun Airport South Station (linked to T1) were temporarily suspended.
Before you leave the jet bridge:
- Read the terminal on your boarding pass or airline app (T2 or T3).
- Ignore outdated maps that send you to Terminal 1 or Airport South.
- Ground transport, metro stations and pickup zones differ by terminal.
Compare the main options
| Option | Useful when | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Metro + shuttle via Gaozeng (T3) | You land at T3 and want Line 3 / Line 9 into the city | Shuttle hours, Stop 74 for departures from T3, Exit B at Gaozeng inbound |
| Metro Airport North (T2) | You land at Terminal 2 | Station is under T2 on Line 3; confirm last-train boards |
| Official taxi | Luggage, a group, or after shuttle/metro hours | Signed east/west taxi points at T3; Chinese hotel address |
| Ride-hailing | Your app and payment already work | T3: transport center P12 (1M and level 2); overflow waiting at P13 |
| Intercity to Baiyun Airport East (T3) | You arrive or depart by intercity rail at T3 | Station is on B2 of the T3 transport hub; walk to/from T3 |
Terminal 3: metro + shuttle via Gaozeng
T3 has no direct metro connection. Official Guangzhou guidance (May 2026):
- Take Metro Line 3 or Line 9 to Gaozeng Station.
- Leave by Exit B.
- Board the dedicated airport shuttle to the T3 transport hub (about 15 minutes).
- Fare: 2 yuan.
Published shuttle hours (same notices):
- Gaozeng → T3: 06:15–23:15
- T3 → Gaozeng: 06:35–22:40
- From arrivals at T3, board the shuttle to Gaozeng at Stop 74 in the T3 transportation center.
- Frequency: every 5 minutes in peak windows (06:15–09:00, 13:00–15:30, 18:00–22:00); every 10 minutes off-peak.
Buy a metro ticket or use an accepted contactless method at Gaozeng after the shuttle. Do not invent a citywide Line 3 last-train time from this page—schedules change; check the board at Gaozeng or Airport North before you rely on a late trip. Historically published last trains for Airport North on Line 3 have been listed on metro maps in past years; recheck on the day.
Terminal 2: Metro Airport North
Metro Airport North (Terminal 2) on Line 3 still serves Terminal 2 (station under T2). Follow 地铁 / Metro signs inside T2. This is not the suspended Airport South station that served T1.
If your flight is T2, do not walk toward T3 shuttle instructions unless you are transferring terminals. Confirm terminal first.
Official taxi and ride-hailing
Official taxi (T3): Guangzhou government transport notices (February 2026) list two official taxi pickup points east and west of Terminal 3. Join the signed queue. Show a Chinese hotel name and address. Ask for the meter. Ignore anyone approaching you inside arrivals with an unofficial car offer.
Ride-hailing (T3 transition): Official English bulletins describe pickup at the transport center P12 (1M and level 2), with an additional waiting area at P13 (about 2 km from the terminal, about 1,100 spaces) put into service during the T3 transition. Follow in-app pin and airport signs—do not invent a door number beyond what the app shows.
We do not publish a fixed taxi fare to downtown here; traffic and destination vary. Prepare a Chinese hotel address and, if you use DiDi, see How to use DiDi in China.
Intercity rail at T3: Baiyun Airport East Station (T3) sits on B2 of the T3 transport hub; you can walk between the station and Terminal 3. This replaces reliance on the suspended Baiyun Airport South station linked to closed T1.
Before leaving arrivals
- Confirm CAN, then T2 vs T3 (T1 is closed).
- Save the hotel’s Chinese name, full address and phone.
- Decide metro+shuttle, taxi or ride-hailing before you leave the secure area when possible.
- For T3 metro: go to Stop 74 for the Gaozeng shuttle; for T2 metro: follow Airport North signs.
- Keep a payment backup (wallet app, card or modest cash).
- If you land very late, see Late-night arrival at a China airport and What to do in the first 2 hours after landing.
Related Guides on Get Around CN
- China Airport to City Guide
- Late-night arrival at a China airport
- What to do in the first 2 hours after landing
- Save your hotel address in Chinese
- How to use DiDi in China
FAQ
Is Terminal 1 still open at Baiyun Airport?
No. Official Guangzhou English notices state Terminal 1 closed as of 7 May 2026, with airlines moved primarily to Terminal 3. Metro Airport South and intercity Baiyun Airport South (linked to T1) were temporarily suspended.
Does Terminal 3 have a metro station underneath?
No direct metro under T3. Use Line 3 or Line 9 to Gaozeng, Exit B, then the dedicated 2 yuan shuttle (about 15 minutes).
Which metro station serves Terminal 2?
Airport North (Terminal 2) on Metro Line 3, under T2.
Where do I catch the shuttle from T3 back to the metro?
At Stop 74 in the T3 transportation center, toward Gaozeng (published return window 06:35–22:40—recheck on site).
Disclaimer
App interfaces, payment rules, station practices, hotel policies and local procedures may change. Treat this guide as a source-checked practical guide, then verify important details with the official service, your hotel, transport staff or your card issuer before relying on it in an urgent situation.
Sources and review
Sources reviewed on 2026-10-28. These sources support the service or policy facts; the practical fallback steps are editorial guidance. This is not a recorded field test.