Airlines: China Southern Airlines, XiamenAir, Sichuan Airlines, and all SkyTeam partners — Air France, KLM, Delta, Korean Air.

Infrastructure: 658,000 m² “Pearl Cloud” design — a massive pillar-less check-in hall, the most advanced automated bag-drop in China, and the flagship Pearl Lounge network.

Airlines: Select international premium carriers and domestic “Express” routes.

Infrastructure: Connected to the massive Ground Transportation Center (GTC) integrating High-Speed Rail, Intercity Rail, and Metro lines into a single hub.

Airlines: Air China, Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and budget carriers (9 Air, Spring Airlines).

2025 renovation: Significant internal upgrades to match the tech standards of T2 and T3 — new self-service kiosks, improved retail, and faster security lanes.

Face-as-your-Boarding-Pass

Link facial biometrics at any self-service kiosk for domestic flights. Your face then acts as your boarding pass at every security checkpoint and aircraft gate — no physical document needed.

3D CT Baggage Scanners

CAN has completed the full transition to 3D CT scanners. Laptops, power banks, and liquids under 100ml no longer need to be removed from carry-on bags at security.

E-Passport Immigration Gates

For international arrivals, E-Passport automated gates are now standard for many nationalities — reducing average immigration processing time to under 30 minutes.

All foreign nationals must use the self-service kiosks to scan fingerprints and capture a biometric photo before proceeding to the immigration officer. Find these kiosks immediately after the aircraft jetway.

Both count as valid “third countries” for the 144-hour policy. This makes CAN an excellent gateway for travelers combining mainland Guangdong with a Hong Kong visit on a single trip without a full China visa.

⭐ Metro Line 22 (North Extension) — Fastest to CBD

The premium express option. Connects Baiyun Airport directly to Guangzhou South Railway Station (high-speed hub) and Panyu — with larger trains and dedicated luggage areas.

🚇 Metro Line 3 — Standard City Route

Connects to Tiyu Xilu and the older city centre districts. Price: 7 CNY | Time: 45–50 min.

🚕 Didi & Taxis

🚄 High-Speed Rail (T3 GTC) — To Hong Kong & GBA

The T3 Ground Transportation Center integrates directly with the GZ–HK high-speed rail corridor. Total journey time to Hong Kong: approximately 80 minutes. Also serves Shenzhen, Dongguan, and other Greater Bay Area cities.

🌸 China Southern Pearl Lounge (T2 — International & Domestic)

Spanning two floors, these are consistently ranked among the best airline lounges in Asia. Features include:

• Live Cantonese Noodle Bar — wonton noodle soup freshly prepared to order
• Private nap suites (bookable per hour)
• Small curated library with Chinese and English publications
• Full bar with Cantonese spirits and imported wines
• Dedicated shower suites with premium amenities

One of Guangzhou’s oldest and most celebrated Cantonese restaurants has branches inside the terminal. Have authentic Har Gow (crystal shrimp dumplings) and Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns) right in the airport — a genuine culinary experience, not a concession stand approximation.

The 2026 expansion introduced a dedicated “Tech Zone” featuring the latest products from DJI (drones, gimbals), Huawei (phones, tablets, earbuds), and Xiaomi at competitive duty-free prices. Excellent for picking up Chinese consumer electronics before departure.

Airside tea boutiques stock high-end Oolong and Pu-erh teas from Guangdong and Yunnan, packaged specifically to comply with international flight liquid and customs regulations. The best gift from southern China — and significantly cheaper than equivalent products at destination airports.

Guangzhou is essentially 100% digital payments. Cash is technically accepted but often results in “no change” responses and is useless for Metro gates or Didi. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to your international credit card before departure. The Alipay app has an English-language international version that works without a Chinese bank account.

High-quality filtered water dispensers (hot, warm, and cold) are located near every restroom block across all three terminals. Bring a reusable thermos — the hot water is ideal for instant noodles or tea, and the cold water is genuinely high-quality.

Free airport WiFi requires an SMS verification code. Without a Chinese SIM, scan your passport at the dedicated WiFi Kiosks in the arrivals hall to receive a unique login code. Available in all three terminals.

China’s aviation authority enforces the strictest power bank rules globally. Your power bank must have its capacity clearly printed in Wh (Watt-hours). If the label is faded, damaged, or missing, security will confiscate it without exception. Maximum limit: 100Wh (approximately 27,000 mAh). Must be in carry-on luggage only.

The walk from security to the furthest international pier in T2 can take 20 minutes — longer than most airports in Europe. After clearing security and passport control, allow significant walking time before assuming you have margin. Use the moving walkways throughout.