Guangzhou South Railway Station Guide: Map, Hotels, Transport & Parking

Guangzhou South Railway Station East Entrance

Guangzhou South Railway Station is one of the busiest high-speed rail hubs in China, with the highest number of trains stopping every day in the country. During the peak holiday transportation period, this super station receives and sends nearly a thousand trains every day, efficiently connecting major cities across the country. As the core transportation gateway of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, it is not only an important railway passenger transportation centre in southern China, but also an important starting point for you to explore the Bay Area and reach the whole country.

However, Guangzhou South Railway Station is large in scale (covering over 600,000㎡) and crowded with people. Faced with the complex station layout and tight transfer time, many passengers have rushed here. Don't want to miss the train at Guangzhou South Railway Station? This guide will provide you with practical suggestions to help you travel efficiently.

Guangzhou South Railway Station Basic Info

Guangzhou South Railway Station Map

Guangzhou South Railway Station Layout

The main structure of the station has four floors, including three floors above ground and one underground floor.

3F: Ticket collection, ticket change, drop-off, entry, security check, waiting This floor is an elevated waiting floor, which is the main area for passenger security check, entry, waiting, rest and shopping.

2F: Boarding, getting off, transfer, drop-off, entry platform canopy is a large steel structure without platform columns. The south end supports convenient transfers and can save a lot of time; the second floor is the entry floor, where passengers who take taxis or drive can enter the station. After entering the station, they need to take the lift to the third floor for security check and waiting

1F: Ticket purchase, ticket collection, ticket change, entry, exit, bus, taxi, pick up relatives and friends This floor is the entry floor, and the passages on the north and south sides are close to the parking lot. There are automatic ticket vending (collection) machines on the north and south sides of the passages, and manual ticket offices are set up in the East Square and the West Square. To the west, you can reach the bus platform (West Square), and to the east, you can reach the bus station (the first underground floor of the East Square); the bus station is located in the West Square.

B1: Guangzhou Metro, Foshan Metro, parking, car. There is a subway station under the station building, Guangzhou South Bus Station is located in the east square, there are south and north underground parking lots, and two temporary parking lots for social vehicles in the east and west provide more than 500 temporary parking spaces.

Popular Trains from/to Guangzhou South Railway Station

Duration is based on the fastest high-speed train.

How to get to Guangzhou South Railway Station & Quick Check-in Guide

1. By Taxi

The most convenient option is taking a taxi directly to the station. Ask the driver to drop you at the West Gate for gates 15-28 or East Gate for gates 1-14. The ride takes 30-50 minutes from downtown and costs ¥50-150. After drop-off, take lifts or escalators directly to the third floor departure hall. If you’re in a hurry, both gates will work – just board first and find the carriage later.

2. By Private Car

For drivers, navigate to P1 to P8 parking lot, the closest to station entrances. The drive takes 30-60 minutes including parking time, with daily parking fees of ¥10-30. From P7, walk to either East or West Gate and proceed to the third floor. While gates are divided into A (carriages 1-8) and B (9-16), you can use either if pressed for time.

3. By Metro

Metro lines 2, 7, 22 and Foshan Line 2 all serve the station, taking about 40 minutes from city centre at a cost of ¥2-7. For gates 1-14, use Exit H (East Gate); for gates 15-28, use Exit B (West Gate). After exiting the metro, you can take the lift or escalator directly to the departure hall on the third floor.

4. By Bus

There are many bus routes at the West Gate Bus Station of Guangzhou South Railway Station, including 301A, 312, Pan 99, Pan 129, Fo 211, Gui 11 and Night 79, all of which terminate at Guangzhou South Railway Station (广州南站总站). The journey takes 50-70 minutes and costs ¥2-5. From the bus terminal, enter through the west gate and go up to the third floor, which is ideally located for gates 15-28.

5. By Coach

Long-distance coaches arrive at the adjacent coach station. Travel time varies (about 2 hours from Shenzhen) with fares ranging ¥30-100. Passengers are advised to walk to the East Gate (best suited for Gates 1-14) and then proceed to the Departure Hall on the 3rd floor.

Guangzhou South Station Quick Check-in Guide

• For Gates 1-14: Take metro Exit H or alight at East Gate when arriving by taxi/coach. Proceed directly to the 3rd floor departure hall.
• For Gates 15-28: Use metro Exit B or arrive at West Gate via taxi/bus. All passengers must go to 3rd floor for boarding.
• Gate Allocation: The 3rd floor features A gates (carriages 1-8) and B gates (carriages 9-16). When pressed for time, either gate can be used - simply board first and locate your carriage later.

Guangzhou South Railway Station to Major Destinations

1. Guangzhou South Railway Station to Baiyun Airport

2. Guangzhou South Railway Station to Canton Fair

3. Guangzhou South Railway Station to Beijing Road

Hotels near Guangzhou South Railway Station

There are many high-quality hotels near Guangzhou South Railway Station. The following hotels are particularly well-located, providing a variety of options for business travellers and transit passengers.

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Guangzhou South Railway Station Parking

Parking Lots:

• Quick Pick-up/Drop-off (10 mins free): P1, P3, P5
• Long-term Parking:
• • Outside Station: P4, P8
  • Inside Station: P2, P6, P7

Location:

• South Side (Near South Station South Road): P1, P2, P3, P4
• North Side (Near South Station North Road): P5, P6, P7, P8

Quick Pick-up Area Fees (P1, P3, P5)

Long-term Parking Fees (P2, P4, P6, P8)

*Parking fees are from Guangzhou Local Guide, please refer to the latest actual situation for the price.

FAQs About Guangzhou South Railway Station

Which is the largest railway station in Guangzhou?
Guangzhou South Station is the largest and busiest.

How many railway stations are there in Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has 5 major railway stations: Guangzhou South Station (main high-speed rail hub), Guangzhou Station (original main station), Guangzhou East Station, Guangzhou North Station, Guangzhou Baiyun Station (new station opened in 2023).

Where to take a high-speed train in Guangzhou?
Most HSR depart from Guangzhou South Station. Some also leave from East/North Stations.

How far is Guangzhou Airport (CAN) from the train station?
About 55 km from Guangzhou South Station (75 min by metro Line 3 & Line 2).

Is there a subway from Guangzhou to Shenzhen?
No direct subway. Take the high-speed train (30 min) or intercity rail.

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