Guangzhou South Railway Station – 2026 Schedule, Routes, Map & Tips

Written by Catherine | Updated March 17,2026

Guangzhou South Railway Station is the largest high-speed train station in Guangzhou and the South China region. It is also the main high-speed rail hub in the Greater Bay Area and the Pan-Pearl River Delta Area. Its design inspiration comes from the characteristic banana leaf in the Lingnan culture and it has been the landmark of Guangzhou. Every day, about 800 trains depart from or arrive at the station. The frequency is even higher than metros. And it has been the main station for most tourists who travel to Guangzhou or depart for their next destination.

It mainly serves five major rail lines: Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway, Guiyang-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, Nanning-Guangzhou Railway, Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway. From this station, passengers can reach almost all the major cities in China.

• Chinese name:广州南站
• Name on train tickets: 广州南
• Location:North Nanzhan Road, Panyu District
• How to get to:metro lines 2, 7, and 22 and Foshan metro line 2
• Station size: covers an area of 615,000 sq. m. with 15 platforms
• Major destinations to/from the station: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Guilin, Nanning, Guiyang
• What trains operate from here: Primarily G-series and D-series high-speed trains (bullet trains)

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• Guangzhou South Station: 2026 Popular Train Routes & Schedules
• Layout, Facilities & Services at Guangzhou South Station
• Getting There, Boarding & Exiting
• More Essential Tips for Using the Station & Train Travel in China
• Travel with China Xian Tour for a Hassle-free Trip

Guangzhou South Station: 2026 Popular Train Routes & Schedules

Guangzhou South Train Station has formed a three-dimensional high-speed rail network of “four vertical lines and three horizontal lines”. The general rail line layout is as follows:

South – North Main Axis: Through Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway, it has formed a main axis connecting North China, South China and Hong Kong.

Westward Radiation Line: Through the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway and the Nanning-Guangzhou Railway, it can quickly connect with southwestern provinces and cities.

Intercity Dense Rail Network: The Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway and the Guangzhou-Foshan Ring Intercity Railway operate frequent trains every day, supporting a one-hour commuting circle in the Greater Bay Area.

Good to know:

• For tourists who take inter-provincial high-speed trains or head to cities in western Guangdong, Guangzhou South Station is the most recommended.
• For tourists who plan to travel to other cities in the Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou East Train Station also offers plenty of trains and is closer to city center.

Schedules of Popular Lines from the Station

Popular Routes for Train Travel in China

From Guangzhou South Station, you can expect to embark on an ultimate China train travel to many popular travel destinations around the country. Below are some of our most recommended routes.

Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway

Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway is one of the main lines operated by Guangzhou South Railway Station. It is the most important north-south railway transportation artery in China. Spanning about 2298 km, it has been the world’s longest high-speed railway. But the fastest train takes only about 7.5 hours to travel between the 2 cities. This line has connected 6 provinces with about 200 stops along the way, including many provincial capitals, such as Wuhan, Changsha, etc.

Travelling from north to south, the train will pass through the North China Plain, the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Plains and the Lingnan Hilly area, just like a landscape gallery. Passengers can directly experience the magnificent landscape changes from the vast plain to the dense water network and then to the undulating hills.

Many tourists choose to break up their journey by visiting hot destinations along the high-speed rail line. Wuhan and Changsha have emerged as essential stops and important transfer stations.

From Wuhan, you can take the train to Yichang to visit the Three Gorges. From Changsha, there are frequent bullet trains to Zhangjiajie.

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Shanghai–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway

This railway line is about 1,600 km long and a single trip takes about 6.5 – 7.5 hours. This route traverses East China, Central China and South China, passing through the Jiangnan water towns, the GanPo Plain, the Xiang River basin and the Lingnan hills.

The trains usually have stops in Hangzhou, Nanchang and Changsha. If time permits, tourists can plan a segmented tour along the way:

• In Hangzhou, immerse yourself in the West Lake and experience tea culture in Longji Tea Village.
• Then head to Nanchang. The Tengwang Pavilion is one of the “Three Famous Towers in Jiangnan”.
• Poyang Lake is a paradise for migratory birds and the fish products are famous all over China.
• The final stop is Changsha, a capital of food and vitality. Orange Island, Yuelu Mountain and Hunan Provincial Museum tell the history of the city. The authentic Hunan cuisine will feast your belly.

Guangzhou-Guiyang High-Speed Railway

Guangzhou-Guiyang High-Speed Railway has a total length of 857 km and a designed speed of 300 km/h. From Guiyang East to Guangzhou South Station, the fastest train will take about 3.5 hours.

This line is one of the most scenic railway lines showcasing ethnic cultures. It passes Guizhou, Guangxi and Guangdong and connects plenty of natural and cultural attractions. The trains set out from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and traverse continuous karst peak forests and caves in Guizhou and Guangxi. Outside the window are magnificent gorges and bridges. After entering Guangxi, the classic scroll of Li River scenery unfolds gradually. Finally, the landscapes transform into the hilly area and plateau. The view is broader. For tourists planning a tour along the way, it is highly recommended to get off at Guilin and pay a visit to Guilin city and Yangshuo.

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Guangzhou–Zhuhai/Macau Route

Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity railway basically departs from Guangzhou South Train Station and arrives at Zhuhai Train Station. Every day, the number of trains is as dense as public buses. In peak hours, there is one train every 10 – 20 minutes. The Gongbei Port is right next to Zhuhai Station, so most tourists will go to Macau via the port. The detailed process is listed below.

• Step 1: Get out of Zhuhai Station, turn right and walk along the road for 5 – 10 minutes, you will see the Gongbei Port. There are also signs along the way, so you do not need to worry about getting lost.
• Step 2: After entering the hall, please wait in line at the manual passage, then show your passport and entry card. The clerk will ask you some simple questions and then handle the procedures for you.
• Step 3: Then walk along an indoor corridor for about 10 – 15 minutes, you will arrive at the Macau port.
• Step 4: Also, queue up at the manual channel and show your passport. Sometimes, the clerk may ask you to show the return flight ticket and hotel order.
• Step 5: After customs clearance, you can take the free shuttle bus offered by various hotels on the left or take a public bus at bus terminal on the right.

Tips: Gongbei Port opens from 06:00 to 01:00 the next day. The peak hours are 09:00 – 12:00 and 17:00 – 20:00.

Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway

This line is the first cross-border high-speed railway in China. Its length is about 141 km. From Guangzhou South Railway Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon, there are 2 – 3 trains every hour from 06:30 – 21:30. The most convenient is the one port two immigration inspection tourists policy, which means tourists can complete the Exit and Entry Procedures at West Kowloon Railway Station at once. See the detailed process below.

• Step 1: After getting off the train, follow the sign of “Arrivals”to the Arrival Concourse.
• Step 2: First, head to the mainland port area and wait in line at the channel for international travelers. The clerk will check your passport and high-speed train ticket.
• Step 3: Afterwards, walk to the Hong Kong port area next to it. Also, wait at the manual channel and show your passport. You will get an entry label. Please keep it, which may be required when you check in at the hotel.

Note: Though it is efficient. During public holidays, the customs clearance may need over half an hour.

Related reading: How to Get from Hong Kong to Guangzhou

Layout, Facilities & Services at Guangzhou South Station

Layout

Guangzhou South Train Station consists of three floors above ground and two floors underground, each floor has its core function.

• F3 Floor: Main waiting area. It is equipped with two major waiting zones, A and B and a total of 54 ticket gates. The restaurants and stores are concentrated on the mezzanine floor of this floor.
• F2 Floor: Platform Floor. There are 15 platforms and 28 tracks.
• F1 Floor:Arrival and Transfer Hall. The arrival hall is located in the center. The convenient transfer area for high-speed rail transfer is in the south. The comprehensive service center for ticketing, inquiry, lost and found is at the southeast corner. It is also the areas for public buses, long-distance buses, taxis and ride-hailing services.
• B1 Floor:Station hall for metro and parking lots. Passengers can take metro lines 2, 7 and 22 here. Underground parking lots P2 and P6 are also situated here.
• B2 Floor:Platform floor for metro.

Facilities & Services

If you want to buy, change or refund the ticket, go to the comprehensive service center on the 1^st floor. There are also plenty of automatic machines both on the 1^st and 3^rd floors.

The waiting hall is on the third floor with over 5,000 seats. Inside the hall, there are several barrier-free restrooms, baby-care lounges and drinking water rooms.

About food, there are many chain restaurants on the 3^rd floor. In addition, near the station entrance and in the comprehensive commercial center on the East Square, there are also diverse options, including KFC and McDonald’s.

Manual storage counter is near the East and West Gates on the ground floor. With dedicated personnel, it is suitable for storing large luggage or valuable items. The service hours are from 07:00 to 23:00, and overnight storage is also supported. There are also automatic lockers near ticket gates A28, B2 and B3 on the 3^rd floor.

Business-class lounge is directly in front of the ticket gates A12 – A13, at the northeast corner of the east departure platform, the northwest corner of the west departure platform and the southeast area of the convenient transfer zone on the first floor. Just follow the sign of business class priority channel or business class lounge.

Getting There, Boarding & Exiting

How to Get to

By metro: Guangzhou metro lines 2, 7, and 22 and Foshan metro line 2 all can take you to the Guangzhou South Railway Station directly. Please note that exit H is closer to East Entrance (ticket gates A1-A14/B1-B14) and exits B and D are closer to West Entrance (A15-A28/B15-B27). Metro line 2 also connects the station with Yuexiu Park and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Metro is the most reliable and recommended option for all tourists.

By bus: the public bus transportation hub is at the West Square and is only about 50 meters away from the West Entrance. Several bus lines connect downtown area with the station, such as 201, 301, K330, 312, etc.

By taxi: offering point-to-point service, taxi is more comfortable and convenient. But there may be traffic jams during peak hours and holidays. The travel time and cost from main spots inside the city are listed below.

Checking in & Boarding the Train

Enter the station via East or West Entrance -> passport and ticket check -> ascend to the 3^rd floor -> security check -> find the ticket gate and wait for the train -> ticket checking (usually about 15 minutes before departure) -> find the correct platform and board the train

Note for international visitors: International travelers also follow the process, the difference is that when checking the passport and ticket, you can only queue at the manual channel, which is next to the automatic fare gate.

How to Exit and Leave the Station

First, follow the sign of exit to the arrival level. Then head to the corresponding place based on the guide below.

By metro: after exiting the station, pay attention to the metro inspection-free channel sign or metro sign. The sign will guide you to B1 to take the metro.

By taxi: leave from the west gate on the 1^st floor and then turn right, the taxi parking lot is ahead of you.

By bus: also, exit from the west gate, the bus stop is on your front left.

By long-distance bus: the Guangzhou South Bus Station is on the East Square, so you need to leave from east gate on the 1^st floor. Then, you will see the bus station in the front left.

More Essential Tips for Using the Station & Train Travel in China

Guangzhou South Railway Station is very big and it is full of crowds in tourism season, so it is advised to get there at least 1 hour in advance.

International travelers can book the ticket with passport directly. Both China Railway 12306 (English version), Ctrip and Klook offer the service. After purchasing, you will get an e-ticket. Just bring your passport and the e-ticket to take the train.

To facilitate your asking for help from others, some useful phrases are listed below.

Travel with China Xian Tour for a Hassle-free Trip

For first-timers and international travelers who can not speak Chinese or wish to deeply experience the culture, it may be challenging to plan all the transportation, accommodation and itineraries alone. Then joining a high-quality guided tour is an excellent choice. If you plan to set off from Guangzhou South Railway Station to popular destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai or Guilin, China Xian Tour can tailor a trip and arrange all the logistics and ticket booking for you. All our itineraries are tailor-made based on the specific requirements of each traveler, so you will enjoy a perfect tour with us. Do not hesitate to contact us.