Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is one of China's busiest airports and the primary hub for China Southern Airlines — the country's largest carrier by passenger numbers. Located approximately 28 kilometers north of central Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, CAN serves as a major gateway to southern China, the Pearl River Delta, and international destinations across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is located approximately 28 kilometers north of Guangzhou's city center in Guangdong Province, replacing the older Baiyun Airport that had served the city for decades. The current airport opened in 2004 and has undergone substantial expansion since, including the addition of a second terminal in 2018.
CAN serves as the primary hub for China Southern Airlines — China's largest airline by passenger volume and fleet size — offering an extensive domestic Chinese network alongside a broad range of international routes to Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Australasia.
Guangzhou's position in the Pearl River Delta — one of the world's most economically productive manufacturing regions — gives CAN significant importance as a gateway for business travelers, cargo, and the movement of goods between southern China and international markets. The city's role as a major trade fair destination (the Canton Fair is the world's largest trade fair) also drives substantial international traffic.
Guangzhou's aviation history extends to the early 20th century, with the modern Baiyun Airport serving the city for many decades before the construction of the current facility. The new Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport opened in August 2004, replacing the old airport within the city with a more expansive facility on a greenfield site north of Guangzhou.
Terminal 1 opened in 2004, followed by Terminal 2 in 2018, significantly increasing the airport's capacity. Ongoing expansion plans include additional terminals and runway development to handle China's continued aviation growth. CAN consistently ranks among China's top three airports by passenger volume.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport currently operates two passenger terminals:
Both terminals serve China Southern and a range of other carriers. Immigration, customs, and health screening procedures apply for international arrivals. Allow additional time for these processes, particularly during peak travel periods.
China Southern Airlines operates its global hub at CAN, connecting Guangzhou with a massive domestic Chinese network alongside international routes to Europe (notably Amsterdam via a long-running partnership with KLM), North America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Australasia.
Other airlines at CAN include Air China, China Eastern, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and a broad range of Asian and Middle Eastern carriers. CAN's strong domestic connectivity makes it an important connection point for travelers arriving from international destinations and connecting to cities across southern and central China.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport offers a comprehensive range of passenger facilities across both terminals. Duty-free and retail options are extensive, with Chinese products, international brands, and food offerings throughout. Dining ranges from traditional Cantonese cuisine to international fast food.
China Southern's Sky Pearl lounge and several contract airline lounges serve premium passengers in both terminals. Wi-Fi is available (with the usual restrictions on international internet services within China). Medical facilities, left-luggage, and currency exchange are on site.
CAN is connected to Guangzhou and the broader Pearl River Delta region by several transport options:
CAN offers extensive parking facilities adjacent to both terminals, with short-stay, long-stay, and economy options. Covered and open-air parking are available at tiered rates.
Advance booking is recommended during peak periods. Electric vehicle charging and valet parking are available. Allow time to reach the terminals from distant parking areas.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport handles very high passenger volumes, particularly during Chinese national holidays (Golden Week in October and the Spring Festival period). Arriving early — at least 3 hours before international departures — is strongly recommended during peak periods.
Buyers attending the Canton Fair (held in spring and autumn) will find the airport especially busy. Pre-booking tickets for metro and intercity transport is advisable during these periods.
As with all airports in mainland China, international internet services are subject to filtering. Download any essential applications or offline maps before traveling.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport is central to the Pearl River Delta's role as one of the world's most important manufacturing and trade regions. The airport facilitates the movement of business travelers, trade fair attendees, cargo, and international visitors between southern China and global markets.
Canton Fair traffic alone accounts for a significant surge in international passenger movements twice a year, and the airport's cargo operations reflect the extraordinary volume of goods manufactured in and around Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan.
CAN is undergoing major expansion with the development of Terminal 3 and additional runway capacity, aimed at increasing the airport's total capacity to over 120 million passengers annually. These expansions reflect China's ambitious long-term aviation growth targets and Guangdong Province's continued economic importance.
Rail connectivity improvements — including the planned high-speed rail station at the airport — will further integrate CAN into China's national transport network.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is one of China's three major aviation gateways, alongside Beijing Capital/Daxing and Shanghai Pudong, and serves as the primary hub for China Southern Airlines — the country's largest carrier by fleet and passenger volume. Its role is anchored by Guangdong Province's extraordinary economic output and Guangzhou's function as a global trade hub.
CAN's importance extends beyond Guangzhou itself — the Pearl River Delta cluster of cities (including Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, and Zhuhai) uses CAN as a major international gateway. The airport's domestic connectivity via China Southern makes it a key onward connection point for international travelers arriving in southern China.
Within the Pearl River Delta, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) serves as the region's second-largest international facility, with significant overlap in catchment area.
In practical terms, CAN can be understood as:
Airports within approximately 60 miles of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport that may provide additional scheduled commercial, regional access.
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China Southern Airlines is the primary carrier and hub airline at CAN, operating one of the world's largest domestic and international networks from Guangzhou.
The Guangzhou Metro (Line 3 and 3 North Extension) connects the airport directly to the city, with the journey to Tianhe (central Guangzhou) taking approximately 40–50 minutes. Taxis are also available from the arrivals area.
The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) is the world's largest trade fair, held in Guangzhou twice a year (spring and autumn). During these periods, the airport operates at significantly higher capacity with a large influx of international business travelers.
Arrive at least 3 hours before international departures, particularly during Chinese public holidays or Canton Fair periods when the airport is at its busiest.