Guangzhou East Railway StationThe Guangzhou East Station is a very busy and often crowded regular and high-speed train station, heavily used by tourists and foreign travelers. It is important for its central location in the Tianhe Central Business District, its high-speed line to Shenzhen, and its metro hub for two main subway lines.
It is heavily used by tourists and business people from Hong Kong who come via the Luohu Border Port. They take the high-speed train at Shenzhen Station and access the metro below to travel in the city or to go to the airport and train stations.
- Chinese: 广州东站 Gǔangzhōu Dōng Zhàn /gwung joh dong jan/
- Name on train tickets: 广州东
- Address: 1 Dongzhan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong 广州市天河区东站路1号
- Location: 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Baiyun International Airport.
- Metro: Line 1 or Line 3 to Guangzhou East Metro Station (广州东站地铁站).
- Station size: 12 platforms (5 island platforms, 2 side platforms)
See our expandable Guangzhou Railway and Train Station City Map for a bigger responsive station map.
Popular Trains to Other Cities
Street map of Guangzhou East's location in TianheSee the popular train travel routes (departing from Guangzhou East Station) below to get some travel ideas for planning trips in China:
High-Speed Guangzhou–Shenzhen Route 广深铁路
Bullet trains: Of Guangzhou's four bullet train stations, its C-class train is the best for quick access to/from the Tianhe and central Guangzhou area and southern Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
- Hours/price to Shenzhen Station: 深圳站 D-class, about an hour and 12 minutes, about 80 RMB (2nd class), 100 RMB (1st class).
- Length to Guangzhou Station: about 137 km
- Design speed: 250 kph (155 mph)
- Main stops: Guangzhou Station, Guangzhou East Station, Dongguan Station, Shenzhen Station.
A second class car of a D train like that on the high-speed train to Dongguan and ShenzhenThe fast train to Luohu, Shenzhen is the busiest route by far and one of the busiest in the whole country.
Frequent: There are about 64 D-trains running daily to Shenzhen Railway Station from 06:30 to 22:45. There is a train every 15 to 30 minutes, and it takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes. Another 21 D-trains leave from Guangzhou Railway Station that is 10 kilometers away and stop at the station on their way to Shenzhen Station. A train departs from that station every 30 to 45 minutes, so D-class trains leave Guangzhou East for Shenzhen about every 12 minutes or so.
Efficient between Hong Kong/Shenzhen and Guangzhou: Considering the speed, convenience, flexibility, and ticket prices, taking a high-speed train to the Luohu border crossing can be the most efficient and comfortable way for a tourist to go to Hong Kong and southern Shenzhen at present. The trains leave as frequently as every 8 minutes during rush hours.
More central: The city's other bullet train line to Shenzhen starts at Guangzhou South that is on the outskirts of the city and not in the central city area most tourists and travelers go to. That line doesn't go to the Hong Kong border, but the trains go to Futian Station and Shenzhen North Station.
Conventional and Cross Border Trains
There are ordinary trains to Meizhou, Shantou, Xiamen, Beijing, Harbin, Changchun, Chengdu and other cities. By transfering, tourists can go to hundreds of cities.
Cross border: It is also a terminal station for the Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train and one of the stops of the Beijing-Kowloon Through Train. It will be made somewhat obsolete by about 2018 if the Beijing to Kowloon bullet train is finished.
- Cross Border Guangzhou East - Hung Hom Station 红磡站, Hong Kong Z-class trains, 2 hours to cover 182 kilometers, 210 HKD (27 USD) See Guangzhou to Hong Kong Through Trains
- Conventional Guangzhou East - Changsha 长沙 T-class trains, about 8 hours, 29 dollars USD hard bed
- Conventional Guangzhou East - Wuchang 武昌 (in Wuhan 武汉) Z-class direct trains, about 11 to 11 and a half hours, 40 dollars USD hard bed
Note about the train classes: The recommended trains from this station are mainly the D-class fast trains and the T-class (regular) and Z-class (direct) trains. The D-class (also called C for this route, meaning intercity) travel at about 250 kph. The Z, T, and K trains travel at 160 kph, 140 kph, and 120 kph (75 mph) respectively. However, the K trains are often dirty, stop more often and for longer periods, and theft is a problem.
Using Guangzhou East Station
Canton Fair access from Guangzhou East. Click to enlarge itThere is a lack of English signage, and the station sprawls, so add about 15 minutes extra travel time for orientation if you are using this station for the first time. There are English-speaking staff readily available to help foreigners.
Arrive Early
Conventional trains: It is recommended that you arrive at the station about an hour before departure time if you have tickets and about two hours before if you intend to get a ticket there since waiting in line might take an hour on busy days.
Bullet train: Taking a bullet train is easier. When it isn't busy, be there about half an hour before your departure if you already have a ticket and if you feel it is important to get on the exact train, or just wait the 5 to 18 minutes for the next one. When it isn't busy, there are no lines.
Safety: Keep your luggage and bags closed and close to you. In both the crowds in the station and on the regular trains, pickpocketing is a problem.
See How to Get On/Off a Train and 7 Things to Know Before Riding a Train for more.
Transportation - to/from Guangzhou East
Generally, unless you know the city bus routes, the best way to go to and from the station is by taxi or subway. Otherwise, if you are unused to riding Chinese buses, you could get on the wrong bus or miss your stop. Guangzhou has four train stations. Be sure about which one you are going to and explain to your driver clearly about which station you are going to.
Distances: Guangzhou East Station is in Tianhe District and is 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Guangzhou Railway Station, 26 kilometers (16 miles) from the South Railway Station, 40 kilometers (21 miles) from the North Railway Station, and 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Baiyun International Airport. Zhujiang New Town is 2 miles directly south.
Taxis
It is best to catch taxis at the main exits near at the front square. There are people all around the area on the look-out for unsuspecting non-Chinese travelers offering rides, baggage handling, etc, and they may do crimes like giving counterfeit money or scams. Also, they will probably charge you much more than do these in the plaza.
Legit taxis will generally pull up to the door in this designated taxi area where there may also be police and/or guards watching.
- Chinese: 请送我到广州东站. Qǐng sòng wǒ dào Guǎngzhōu Dōng Zhàn.
- English: Please drive me to Guangzhou East Station.
Taxi fares:
- To/from Guangzhou Train Station: 25 minutes, 30 RMB
- To/from Guangzhou South Train Station: 40 minutes, 75 RMB
- To/from Baiyun Airport: about 60 minutes, 125 RMB.
- To/from Canton Trade Fair venue: 25 minutes, 30 RMB.
See more on Guangzhou taxis.
Subway to Shenzhen's Other Railway Stations
Click to enlarge it Guangzhou Metro mapTo Guangzhou South Station (广州南站):
For other bullet train lines that go across the country, you could access the main bullet train hub at Guangzhou South (45 minutes, 7 RMB). Note that these lines get packed from about 7:30 am to 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
- Take Guangzhou Subway Line 1 and go 7 stops to Gongyuanqian Station (公园前站)
- and then transfer to the Guangzhou Subway Line 2 going south 11 stops to Guangzhou South Station.
To Guangzhou Station (广州站):
This station is only about 10 kilometers away, and it would seem that going by subway is quick and fast, but it isn't. Journey time by metro is about 40 minutes (4 RMB). Taking the taxi is faster and less stressful.
- Take the Guangzhou Subway Line 2 going south 3 stops to Gongyuanqian Station (公园前站).
- then transfer to Guangzhou Subway Line 1 and go 7 stops to Guangzhou East Station.
To Baiyun International Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云机场) has very convenient and direct transport (33 minutes, 7 RMB):
- Take Subway Line 3 11 stops to the end station on the line: Airport South Station (机场南站). It is under the airport.
- Or take the bus: Airport Express Bus
To Hong Kong
Just take the bullet train. The journey time is approximately 70 minutes, and when you get out onto Shenzhen Station's main plaza, walk south 100 meters to the Luohu / Lo Wu Border Crossing entrance. The East Rail Line at Lo Wu Station on the Hong Kong side is especially convenient for metro travel around Hong Kong. See Border Crossings in Shenzhen/Hong Kong>>
Metro Lines 1 and 3 to the Main Attractions
Chen Ancestral AcademyTo Zhujiang New City: The subway station next to the CTF Finance Tower and the Guangzhou IFC Tower that are two of the tallest in the world.
- Take Subway Line 3 south to Zhujiang New City Station (Chinese: 珠江新城站, 3 stops)
- Take metro Line 1 directly to Chen Ancestral Shrine Station (陈家祠站, 9 stops).
City Buses
Bus
- To/from Guangzhou East Railway Station (广州东站): B19, 41, 43, 45, 122, 122-A, 175, 183, 185, 195, 209, 214, 233, 256, 280, 283, 302, 302-A, 501, 508, 515, 551, 15 night bus, 17 night bus, 28 night bus, 78 night bus
- To/from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场): Airport Express Bus
Booking Tickets
You could book tickets in the station, at the other train stations, or at many other ticket selling locations in the city. Be clear about which train station you want to use. Foreigners who don't speak Chinese or are unfamiliar with the process might prefer using a tour agency. You'll need your passport. See How to Buy Tickets in China>>
Station's Ticket Offices (售票处)
High-speed train counters: Past Gate 1 on the first floor, you'll find the ticket counters and automated ticket machines. There may be even a fifteen minute line during rush hours. It is one of the heaviest used intercity routes, but with trains leaving every few minutes during rush hours, waiting is minimal.
Conventional train ticket counters: Passengers taking slow trains should go to the ticket counters on the second floor or on the far end of the station building.
- Chinese: 请问, 火车售票处在哪里? Qǐngwèn, huǒchē shòupiàochù zài nǎlǐ?
- English: Excuse me. Where are the ticket counters?
Or Book with Us
You can count on us for booking tickets. In 2015 alone, we helped over 10,000 customers obtain their tickets and greatly facilitated their trip in China. We are available 24/7 and will have your train tickets delivered by express mail to your appointed address or hotel.
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