Guangzhou · Canton · 广州

Your friendly guide to traveling in Guangzhou

Clear, practical answers to the questions every foreign visitor asks — visas, metro, mobile payments, dim sum, hotels, weather and more. All in plain English.

Illustration placeholder of Canton Tower and the Pearl River

240 h

visa-free transit for eligible passports, up to 10 days in Guangdong

15+

metro lines — one of the largest networks in the world

600 m

Canton Tower — the city’s most famous landmark

≈1,700 mm

of rain each year — always keep an umbrella handy

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Transportation

Airport to city, metro, taxis & Didi, high-speed rail to Hong Kong, Canton Fair.

Food

Dim sum & yum cha, must-try dishes, how to order, dietary needs and etiquette.

Accommodation

Best areas to stay, budgets, booking, passport check-in and practical tips.

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Illustration placeholder of old Canton streets

Four things to do before you land

  • A

    Set up Alipay (and WeChat Pay) at home

    Link your Visa or Mastercard and verify with your passport before you fly — everyday shops, taxis and restaurants expect mobile payment.

  • B

    Download translation apps in offline mode

    Baidu Translate, Microsoft Translator and Pleco work without a VPN — Google services are blocked in mainland China.

  • C

    Take the metro from Baiyun Airport

    Line 3 runs straight from the airport to the city center for about ¥8–12 — faster and far cheaper than a taxi.

  • D

    Plan a morning yum cha

    Dim sum houses are liveliest in the morning. Go early — famous teahouses queue fast after 10 a.m., especially on weekends.

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