Getting Around Guangzhou — Metro, APM, Taxi, DiDi, River Ferry & How to Pay (2026)

Q: Can I use Google Maps in Guangzhou?

Google Maps can display a basic map (with a VPN) but its public transit data for mainland China is unreliable or absent. Use Amap (Gaode / 高德地图) or Apple Maps instead — both use accurate, real-time data for the metro and buses, including which exit to use, and neither requires a VPN.

Before you go

A megacity you can cross entirely by metro

Guangzhou is home to more than 18 million people, and it moves them on one of the busiest metro systems on the planet. The network now runs 19 lines and reaches everywhere a visitor wants to go — from Baiyun Airport in the north, down to Canton Tower, across to the old town and Shamian Island, and out to the Guangzhou South high-speed rail station. Fares are distance-based: short hops cost ¥2, most central rides land at ¥3–7, and the long run in from the airport tops out around ¥7.

The good news for visitors: every station has English signage, ticket machines have English menus, and Alipay QR gets you through the gate with no ticket at all. Two things to know up front — every entrance has a bag X-ray security check, so budget a couple of extra minutes; and Guangzhou is hot and humid for most of the year, which makes the air-conditioned metro a far better friend than walking in the sun.

This guide covers every way to get around the city: the fast, cheap metro, the ¥2 APM loop that shuttles you between the CBD sights, metered taxis, DiDi for when you have luggage, and the ¥2 Pearl River ferry that doubles as a riverside view. A little preparation, and the whole trip runs smoothly.

The main event

The Metro — fast, cheap, bilingual

Your first choice for virtually every journey. Clean trains, English signage throughout, and distance-based fares of ¥2–14 — most central rides ¥3–7.

Hours are roughly 06:00 to 23:00–23:30, though this varies by line and terminus — last trains on the longer lines leave well before closing, so check before a late night out. Fares run on distance: most rides within the inner city cost ¥3–7, and Baiyun Airport to the centre is about ¥9 by the conventional route or ¥7 on Line 3. Single-journey tokens, Alipay QR, WeChat Pay, and the rechargeable Yang Cheng Tong card all work at the gates.

Canton Tower, Guangzhou — the slender 'twisted waist' tower on the Pearl River, with a metro station at its base — Both Line 3 and the APM stop at Canton Tower station, depositing you a few minutes' walk from the base of the city's signature landmark.

Key lines

Routes visitors use most

Line	Route	Key stops
Line 3 (the spine)	Baiyun Airport ↔ central CBD (heading south)	Airport North · East Railway Station · Canton Tower · Zhujiang New Town · Tiyu Xilu
Line 1	East ↔ west (old town)	Huangsha (Shamian Island) · Changshou Lu · Gongyuanqian · Tiyu Xilu
Line 2	North ↔ south	Yuexiu Park · Sun Yat-sen Memorial · Gongyuanqian · Guangzhou South (HSR)
APM line	Loop around the Zhujiang New Town CBD	Canton Tower ↔ Opera House ↔ Haixinsha ↔ Huacheng Square ↔ Linhexi
Line 6	Northwest ↔ east	Beijing Lu (pedestrian street) · Cultural Park · Dongshankou (charming old quarter)
Lines 5 / 8	Link the CBD, Ersha Island and Chen Clan	Chen Clan Academy (on Line 1) · Zhujiang New Town · museums

Line 3 at rush hour: Line 3 is the backbone linking the airport to the CBD, and one of the most crowded metro lines in the world during 08:00–09:30 and 17:30–19:00. If you've just landed with luggage, or you're heading to the airport, shifting your journey outside these windows makes a real difference — see the Guangzhou airport transfer guide for peak-hour alternatives.

The visitor's secret weapon

The APM line — a flat ¥2 around the CBD sights

If you're exploring Zhujiang New Town — the CBD with its skyscraper cluster, the Guangzhou Opera House, the central park axis, and the walkway down to Canton Tower — the APM is the answer. It's a short, driverless underground line of nine stations running from Canton Tower up to Linhexi, calling at the Opera House, Haixinsha and Huacheng Square along the way.

Its appeal is the price: a flat ¥2 for any trip (charged separately from the rest of the metro), trains every 3–5 minutes, and stations placed right under the district's main sights so you don't have to trudge across the CBD in the heat. It's perfect for a day that combines Canton Tower, Huacheng Square and the riverside in one easy loop.

Huacheng Square, Guangzhou — the central plaza of the Zhujiang New Town CBD ringed by skyscrapers, with an underground APM station — Huacheng Square is the heart of the CBD — the APM has an underground station right here; surface and you're surrounded by the city's tallest towers.

A walking day with the APM: get off at Canton Tower, shoot photos along the river, then ride the APM up to the Opera House station to admire Zaha Hadid's design, and on to Huacheng Square — all within ¥2-per-ride reach. For the tower itself, see the Canton Tower guide.

Paying for the metro

Four ways to pay — pick what suits you

📱

Alipay QR

Easiest for visitors. Open Alipay, tap Transport, choose Guangzhou, generate the Guangzhou Metro Pass, scan at the gate. No token, no card. Set this up at home.

💬

WeChat Pay

Same concept via a mini-program. Open WeChat, find the Guangzhou Metro mini-program, scan at the gate. Works on all lines.

🎫

Single-journey token

Buy from machines inside every station. English menus, takes coins and notes. A good fallback if Alipay isn't set up yet.

💳

Yang Cheng Tong

The 羊城通 card is rechargeable and works on metro, buses, and ferries. Tap in and out; cumulative discounts apply. Buy at station windows.

Honest summary: Alipay is worth setting up even if the metro is your only reason, because it also handles taxis, DiDi, dim sum restaurants, and nearly every shop in the city. A 2026 bonus: most gates now accept contactless tap-to-pay with Visa and Mastercard, so even if Alipay isn't ready you can still tap a card to ride. Full setup steps in the Alipay & WeChat Pay guide.

Other options

Taxis, DiDi, Buses and the Pearl River Ferry

🚕

Metered Taxis

出租车 · always on the meter

Guangzhou's taxis are metered, with a flag-fall of around ¥12 for the first 3 km, then roughly ¥2.6 per km after that, rising to about ¥3.38 per km late at night (23:00–05:00). Fares climb in traffic because of waiting charges, so during peak hour DiDi often works out faster and a little cheaper.

The one tip that makes taxis actually work: have your destination written in Chinese characters. Most drivers speak little or no English. A hotel business card, or a Google Translate screenshot of the address in Chinese, sorts it every time.

Sample fares: Canton Tower → Shamian Island ~¥25–35 · Airport → city centre ~¥100–150

Payment: Cash · Alipay · WeChat Pay (varies by car)

Note: No ride-hail surge — the meter is the meter

🚗

DiDi — China's ride-hail

滴滴出行 · English app, Alipay payment

DiDi is the dominant ride-hail app in China, with an English-language interface. Type your destination in English; the app locates it and shows a fare estimate before you confirm. Payment links directly to Alipay, and the base fare (around ¥11) sits just under a taxi flag-fall.

DiDi is the right call when the metro has closed for the night, when you have luggage, when a route needs multiple line changes, or simply when it's too hot and humid to walk far from the station. You can hail one from the DiDi app, or from a mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat — no separate app needed if you'd rather not.

Hail from: the DiDi app · an Alipay mini-program · a WeChat mini-program

Payment: link Alipay in the app — it charges automatically at the end

When it beats the metro: late night · with luggage · a group of 3–4 splitting

The Pearl River, Guangzhou, at night — riverside building lights reflected on the water, with ferries and cruise boats running between the two banks

River Ferry

Pearl River Ferry

水上巴士 · ¥2 and a riverside view

The water bus is genuine public transport that Guangzhou residents use to cross the Pearl River every day. It costs ¥2 per trip (a few routes ¥3) and runs roughly every 10 minutes. The most useful piers for visitors are Huangsha (near Shamian Island) and Tianzi.

Those few minutes on the water give you a cheap, atmospheric, water-level look at the riverfront — and unlike the evening sightseeing cruise, this is a real commuter boat for ¥2. If you want the full lights-and-music night cruise instead, that's a separate experience.

Fare: ¥2 per trip (a few routes ¥3) · pay with Yang Cheng Tong or Alipay

Main piers: Huangsha (near Shamian Island) · Tianzi · Zhongda

Hours: ~06:00–22:00 depending on pier · this is not a tourist cruise

🚌

Public Buses

公交车 · comprehensive but Chinese-only

Guangzhou's bus network covers hundreds of routes, including a dedicated BRT corridor with bus-only lanes in the east, reaching corners the metro doesn't. Fares are around ¥2 per journey, payable by Yang Cheng Tong card or cash.

Honest note: bus stop signs, route numbers and timetables are almost entirely in Chinese. For most visitors, the metro is a much easier first choice. Buses make sense for specific neighbourhoods off the rail network, and they work well when combined with Amap (Gaode), which has accurate Guangzhou bus data in its transit directions.

Fare: around ¥2 per trip

Payment: Yang Cheng Tong · exact cash · Alipay on some routes

Navigation: Use Amap (Gaode) for bus route planning

Navigation

Which map app actually works in Guangzhou

This matters more than people expect. Google Maps' public transit data for mainland China is unreliable — even with a VPN, route guidance for the metro and buses is frequently wrong or simply absent. Two apps give accurate, real-time transit directions without any workaround:

🗺️

Amap (Gaode / 高德地图)

The app most Chinese residents use

Amap has accurate, live data for every metro line, bus route, and intercity train in China. You can search destinations in English; the transit planner gives step-by-step directions including which exit to use. Download it from the App Store or Play Store before you arrive — no VPN required to use it.

Tip: Download before departure. Some app stores in China require a VPN to access.

🍎

Apple Maps

iPhone users already have this

Apple Maps in China uses Amap's data as its backend, which means its transit directions for the Guangzhou metro are accurate. If you have an iPhone, this is the path of least resistance — no extra app needed, no VPN, and it integrates with your existing Maps workflow.

Android note: Google Maps transit doesn't work well in China — install Amap instead.

If you want LINE, Instagram, Gmail or full Google Maps while in China, you'll need a VPN installed and tested before you fly — most VPN websites are blocked once you're inside the country. See the full breakdown at the China internet, VPN and eSIM guide.

Shamian Island, Guangzhou — colonial-era buildings along a leafy tree-lined street, near Huangsha station on metro Line 1 — Shamian Island is easy to reach — take Line 1 to Huangsha station and walk across a short bridge to the leafy colonial-era streets.

One thing to do first

Set up Alipay Metro QR before you board your flight

If there's one preparation that makes a difference, it's this: open Alipay, link your Visa or Mastercard through the international mode, then tap Transport and select Guangzhou before you leave home. When you land at Baiyun Airport and walk up to the metro gate, you tap the phone and walk straight through — no queuing at a token machine, no hunting for the right screen while tired and jet-lagged.

One more practical note: avoid peak hours if you can — 08:00–09:30 and 17:30–19:00, especially on the famously packed Line 3. If you're arriving from the airport or heading there, shifting your journey outside these windows makes the whole experience easier. And remember Guangzhou's heat and humidity — carry water, and lean on the air-conditioned metro to link your stops rather than walking long stretches in the sun.

A few quick etiquette notes: every station has a bag X-ray at the entrance — put your bag through each time (budget 1–3 minutes) · locals keep right on escalators so people in a hurry can pass on the left · at busy stations, let passengers off before you board · for airport routes and all the options, see the Guangzhou airport transfer guide.

Common questions

FAQ · Getting around Guangzhou

What are the Guangzhou metro hours?

Most lines run from around 06:00 to 23:00–23:30, but last trains on individual lines can leave terminus stations well before closing. Hours vary by line and direction. Check the timetable posted at each station or in the Alipay Metro mini-program before a late night out — if you miss the last train you'll need to hail a DiDi back.

How do I pay for the Guangzhou metro?

Several options: (1) Alipay QR — open Alipay, tap Transport, choose Guangzhou, generate the Guangzhou Metro Pass, scan at the gate; fastest for tourists. (2) WeChat Pay — open the Guangzhou Metro mini-program and scan. (3) Single-journey token from a machine in each station, with an English menu. (4) Yang Cheng Tong (羊城通), rechargeable and also valid on buses and ferries. As of 2026, most gates also accept contactless tap-to-pay with Visa and Mastercard. Full setup in the Alipay & WeChat Pay guide.

How much is the Guangzhou metro fare?

Fares are distance-based, from ¥2 to ¥14. Most rides within the city centre cost ¥3–7, and Baiyun Airport (Line 3 north) to the centre is about ¥7. The APM line that loops around the Zhujiang New Town CBD is a flat ¥2 for any trip (¥1 ≈ ฿5).

What is the Guangzhou APM line?

The APM (Automated People Mover) is a short, driverless underground line of nine stations running from Canton Tower up to Linhexi, passing the Guangzhou Opera House, Haixinsha and Huacheng Square. It's ideal for hopping between the main sights of the Zhujiang New Town CBD without walking in the heat. The fare is a flat ¥2 for any trip, and trains come every 3–5 minutes.

Does DiDi work in English? Do I need to speak Chinese?

DiDi has an English interface. You can type a destination in English and the app will locate it; payment links directly to Alipay. You don't need to speak Chinese, though having your destination written in Chinese characters helps if a driver calls to confirm. DiDi is the right call when the metro has closed, when you have luggage, or when it's too hot and humid to walk far.

Can I use Google Maps in Guangzhou?

Google Maps can display a basic map (with a VPN) but its transit data for mainland China is unreliable or absent. Use Amap (Gaode / 高德地图) or Apple Maps instead — both use accurate, real-time data for the metro and buses, including which exit to use, and neither requires a VPN. See the China internet, VPN and eSIM guide for getting connected.

How does the Pearl River ferry work, and what does it cost?

The water bus (水上巴士) is genuine public transport that Guangzhou residents use to cross the Pearl River. It costs ¥2 per trip (a few routes ¥3) and runs roughly every 10 minutes. The most useful piers for visitors are Huangsha (near Shamian Island) and Tianzi. Pay with a Yang Cheng Tong card or Alipay. It's a cheap, scenic ride — not to be confused with the evening sightseeing cruise.

Guangzhou City Guide

Hotels, sights, Canton Tower, Shamian Island, neighbourhoods and more

See →

Guangzhou Airport Transfer

CAN Baiyun — Line 3, express bus, taxi compared

See →

Alipay & WeChat Pay Guide

Link a foreign card, set up before you travel

See →

Canton Tower

The city's signature tower — Line 3 + APM stop at its base

See →