Cities & Districts — Guangzhou for the Foreign Community
Guangzhou treated the same way as the rest of the network — eleven districts, the full 16-line metro system with a working route planner, Baiyun International Airport, and the twice-yearly Canton Fair that anchors the whole ecosystem's sourcing side.
Key Facts
01 · Districts
No counties — eleven districts make up the whole city, from the old city centre at Yuexiu to the free-trade port at Nansha.
02 · Every Line, Every Station
All 16 operating lines, including the Guangfo intercity line to Foshan and the APM shuttle to Canton Tower. Line 3's Y-split and Line 14's Knowledge City branch are shown as branches off their parent line.
03 · Plan Your Trip
Pick two stations, then hit Find Route.
04 · Airport
| Location | 28 km north of city centre, Huadu / Baiyun districts |
|---|---|
| Terminals | T1 (older, domestic + some international) · T2 (China Southern hub, SkyTeam, most international) |
| Metro Access | Line 3 North branch — Airport South (T1) · Airport North (T2) |
| From Downtown | ~45–55 min from Tiyu Xilu, ¥7–¥11 by metro |
| Taxi | 40–70 min, ¥120–180 to Tianhe/Yuexiu |
| Visa-Free Transit | 144-hour visa-free (54 nations) — must stay within Guangdong, onward ticket required |
05 · Canton Fair
China's largest and oldest trade fair — twice a year, three phases each, at the Pazhou complex in Haizhu. The anchor event for the whole sourcing side of this network.
Spring session (April–May) and Autumn session (October–November), each split into three phases covering different product categories — electronics & machinery, consumer goods & gifts, then textiles & food. Exact dates confirmed 2–3 months ahead.
Canton Fair Complex, Pazhou Island, Haizhu District — Metro Line 8, Pazhou or Xingangdong stations, both with exits directly into the complex.
Pre-register online at the official Canton Fair website with your passport and business details — free for most foreign buyers. Your registration confirmation doubles as an invitation letter that helps with a Chinese business ("M") visa, or use the 144-hour visa-free transit if eligible.
Pazhou/Chigang is walking distance but expensive during the fair. Tianhe (Zhujiang New Town) is 10–15 minutes by metro with a good price/convenience balance. Haizhu (Jiangnanxi, Changgang) is more local and cheaper, still on Line 8.
Only the official Canton Fair website issues real invitation letters — third-party agencies selling them are a common scam. Don't lend your badge to anyone; it's tied to your passport.
06 · Venue Directory
A starting seed list across eight categories — sourced from research, not yet personally verified on the ground. Treat as a starting point and confirm details before relying on them.
07 · District & Reference Maps