Located 28 kilometres north of downtown Guangzhou in the Baiyun and Huadu districts, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is China's busiest passenger airport. Operating 24 hours a day across 3,558 acres, this 4-Star hub serves over 200 mostly domestic destinations. It provides a key global gateway for passenger travel and air freight across Asia and beyond.
The airport complex features three terminals designed around efficiency and expansion. Terminal 2 serves as a Skytrax 5-Star facility and the primary hub for China Southern Airlines, separating domestic B gates from international A gates. Terminal 3 showcases digital innovation with a flower design theme and an open-air observation deck, while Terminal 1 undergoes temporary renovation.
01 Terminals & concourses
Features a Main Terminal with check-in counters alongside Area A and Area B concourses for boarding and border controls. It is temporarily closed for renovation, with flights moved to Terminals 2 and 3.
A 5-Star terminal offering 4 levels including premium lounges, domestic B gates on the west, international A gates on the east, and multi-level swing gates 168-173.
Opened in October 2025 using BIM digital technology, featuring paper-free archives, a distinctive flower design theme, and China's first open-air airport observation deck.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at CAN
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from CAN
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Metro | Guangzhou Metro Line 3 serves Airport North Station at Terminal 2; Airport South Station is temporarily closed during Terminal 1 renovation. |
| Intercity Rail | Guangzhou–Foshan circular intercity railway connects Airport North (Terminal 2) and Airport East (Terminal 3) to Panyu and Huadu stations. |
| Shuttle Bus | A free shuttle bus runs directly between Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. |
| Bus | Five Airport Express and six Airport Non-stop lines connect to downtown locations, alongside intercity buses to surrounding cities. |
| Road | Expressway access to downtown Guangzhou is provided by the S41 Guangzhou Airport Expressway. |
04 Lounges & amenities
Level 4 of Terminal 2 offers premium lounges alongside commercial dining food courts.
