Guangzhou and Hong Kong are among China’s top travel destinations. These two places are fascinating hubs that attract tourists and businesspeople. In this article, you will learn how to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong.
How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong
There are at least seven ways to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong. You can get to Hong Kong from Guangzhou (from the fastest to the slowest way) by:
- flight (1 hour)
- connected trains (1-1.5 hours)
- high-speed train (1-2 hours)
- ferry (1.5-2.5 hours)
- MTR and train (3 hours)
- car (3-4 hours)
- bus (4-5 hours).
You can book your trip on trip.com.
How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong by flight
From – to: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) – Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
A flight is best for transit, and it only takes about an hour. You can catch a morning or evening flight.
How much is the flight cost from Hong Kong to Guangzhou?
A flight from Hong Kong to Guangzhou is about US$130-150 one way.
How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong by connected trains
From – to: Hong Kong West Kowloon Station – Guangzhou East Station/Guangzhou South Station
It is possible to get from Hong Kong to Guangzhou via Shenzhen. If you want to cut costs and save time, you can choose connected trains.
- Hop on the fast train to Shenzhen Futian Station/North Station from Hong Kong West Kowloon.
- Transfer to a bullet train to Guangzhou East/South.
The total cost of the second-class seats is about US$25, and the journey only takes 1-1.5 hours. Make sure to have enough time for transit and double-check the train station’s name in Shenzhen when booking—there are two stations!
How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong by high-speed train
From – to: Hong Kong West Kowloon Station – Guangzhou East Station/Guangzhou South Station
If you do not like taking a plane or going through the hassle of transferring, the Guangzhou-Hong Kong high-speed train is the most recommended way. You can get a second-class seat for about US$32. The journey takes about 1-2 hours. Another pro is that there are many trains to choose from, on schedule between 8 am and 11 pm. It may be more challenging to buy last-minute tickets, especially during holidays. Besides, you might even need an hour to get through entry and exit formalities at West Kowloon Station, so factor it in.
How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong by ferry
From – to: Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal/Sky Pier – Guangzhou Nansha Passenger Port/Panyu Lianhuashan Port
If you want a unique experience, book a ferry trip from Hong Kong port to Guangzhou port. It is recommended for those arriving in Hong Kong by air, as the ferry port (Sky Pier) is near the airport. The second pier is downtown in Kowloon (China Ferry Terminal). The fare is around US$30 – US$50 for a standard class, which takes 1.5 – 2.5 hours.
Eight departures from China Ferry Terminal and five from Sky Pier are available throughout the day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Make sure to check the schedule ahead, as sometimes the sailings are canceled due to severe weather.
How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong by MTR and train
From – to: Hong Kong – Luohu Port- Shenzhen Railway Station – Guangzhou East Station
If you are staying close to a metro station in Hong Kong, you can take MTR to Shenzhen. From Shenzhen Luohu Port (there may be long queues), go to the nearby Shenzhen Railway Station. Change to the bullet train to Guangzhou.
The travel time is about 3 hours, and the total price for a metro ticket and a second-class seat is around US$23.
Please keep in mind that this method may be difficult for you if this is your first visit to Hong Kong/China.
How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong by car
From – to: you choose
If you are on a business trip or traveling in a group and do not fancy the crowds, you can travel by private car. It takes about 3-4 hours and costs around US$600 per way. Note that you may experience heavier traffic at the border.
How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong by bus
From – to: Hong Kong Bus pick-up point – Guangzhou Bus drop-off point
If you are on a budget and have the time, you can take a bus from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. It takes 3-5 hours from Hong Kong Airport directly to Guangzhou by bus, and the fare is around US$15 – US$37.
There are plenty of coaches to choose from, terminals such as Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong International Airport, Tsim Sha Tsui, etc. Please note that you need to carry your luggage from one bus to another in Shenzhen and cross the border on foot.
Get to Canton Fair from Hong Kong Airport
Canton Fair is the biggest trade fair in China. It has two editions, in spring and fall. You can get to Canton Fair from Hong Kong Airport in five simple steps.
Step 1: Take the Airport Express from Hong Kong Airport to Kowloon (30 minutes, 100 HKD).
Step 2: Walk approximately 1.6 km from Kowloon metro station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.
Step 3: Board the high-speed train at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Guangzhou South Railway Station (1 hour, 215 RMB for second class, 323 RMB for first class).
Step 4: Upon arrival at Guangzhou South Railway Station (Guangzhou Nanzhan), take metro line 2 to Changgang (9 stops, 21 minutes, 5 RMB, runs 06:00-23:30).
Step 5: Transfer to metro line 8 (towards Wanshengwei) at Changgang and alight at Pazhou. Take Exit C (9 stops, 19 minutes, 4 RMB, runs 06:21-23:45).
In short, you take the airport express to Kowloon, then take a high-speed train to Guangzhou South Railway Station, and lastly, take a metro to Canton Fair.
Do I need a visa from Hong Kong to Guangzhou?
Guangzhou is in mainland China, and Hong Kong is not. Depending on your passport, you may need a visa to travel from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. We recommend applying for your visa in advance in your home country.
There are some instances when you do not need a visa to travel to mainland China in these scenarios:
- Japan, Singapore, and Brunei citizens can enter Guangzhou for up to 15 days without visas
- passport holders of chosen European countries enjoy 15-90 visa-free travel to China
- Qatar citizens can enter Guangzhou for less than 30 days
- passport holders from 53 countries enjoy 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit
- group visitors with a registered travel agency enjoy a six-day Visa Exemption
- APEC Business Travel Card Holders
- holders of Aliens’ Residence Permits.