This guide is written by an editorial team based in Chongqing — the editor has lived in mainland China since 2018 and uses the Alipay QR-code metro system regularly; line and station detail is aggregated from the Guangzhou Metro network and 2024-2026 r/travelchina threads. The payment mechanism below is the same one the editor has verified first-hand on other mainland metros 2025-2026. aggregated editorial coverage for Guangzhou-specific detail.

Buying tickets — pay with your phone

The Guangzhou Metro has no need for paper tickets for a foreign visitor. The standard 2026 method:

  1. Set up Alipay before you fly — install it, add a foreign Visa or Mastercard, and complete passport verification. See the Alipay setup guide.
  2. Open the transit ride-code. In Alipay, find the transit / 乘车码 feature and select Guangzhou Metro. It generates a QR code.
  3. Scan in and out. Hold the QR to the reader at the gate when you enter, and again when you exit — the system charges the correct distance-based fare automatically.

WeChat Pay has the same feature if you prefer it. The cash backup is a physical Yang Cheng Tong (羊城通) transit card, sold and topped up at station service counters and machines.

You can also just tap your own card. Since 12 October 2025, ahead of that autumn's Canton Fair, Guangzhou accepts foreign-issued contactless Mastercard, Visa, American Express and JCB at the gate — no advance purchase and no app. Two details matter in practice: it works at gates marked with the card schemes' logos rather than at literally every lane, so look for the symbols before you queue; and the card needs contactless enabled, which only your issuer can set. If the gate does not respond, use the Alipay QR rather than re-tapping.

Fares are distance-based: roughly ¥2 minimum, up to about ¥14 for the longest cross-city rides. Most central tourist trips are ¥2-6.

The lines that matter for visitors

Guangzhou's network has 16-plus lines — far more than any visitor needs. These are the ones that connect the sights:

Line 3 — the spine

The busy north-south backbone. It runs from Baiyun Airport in the north, down through the Tianhe CBD (体育西路, 珠江新城), to Canton Tower (广州塔) and on to Chimelong (汉溪长隆) in Panyu. One thing to watch: Line 3 splits into a main branch and a Tianhe branch at 体育西路 — check the train's destination on the platform so you board the right one.

Line 1 — the old city

East-west through historic Guangzhou: Gongyuanqian (公园前, for Beijing Road), Chen Clan Academy (陈家祠), and Huangsha (黄沙, for Shamian Island and the Xiguan old quarter).

Line 2 — Yuexiu & the south

North-south through the old centre — Yuexiu Park, Guangzhou Railway Station — and the line that runs all the way south to Guangzhou South Railway Station.

Line 6 & the APM

Line 6 serves Beijing Road, Cultural Park (near Shamian) and the 一德路 area for the Sacred Heart Cathedral. The short APM line runs the Zhujiang New Town spine — Huacheng Square down to Canton Tower — and is the quick link between the CBD and the tower.

English support

English support on the Guangzhou Metro is good. Station names appear in Chinese and English on maps, platform signage and in-car displays; announcements are made in Mandarin, Cantonese and English; and the ticket machines have an English mode. A first-time visitor can navigate the whole network comfortably in English — the main thing to learn is the Line 3 branch split.

Practical tips

  • Security. Every station entrance has an airport-style X-ray bag scanner — standard across mainland China. It adds a minute or two at busy stations.
  • Peak hours. Guangzhou's rush hours (roughly 7:30-9:30am and 5:30-7:30pm) are genuinely crowded, especially on Line 3. Sightsee around them where you can.
  • Interchanges. Some of the big transfer stations involve a long underground walk — allow a few extra minutes when a route shows a change.
  • Last trains. Service runs roughly 6:00am to about 23:00; last-train times vary by line. If you are out late, check your line's last train or plan a DiDi.
  • Heat. Stations and trains are air-conditioned — a real relief in Guangzhou's long hot season, and a reason to favour the metro over walking far between sights.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pay for the Guangzhou Metro as a foreigner?
Use a QR ride-code in Alipay or WeChat Pay, funded by a foreign Visa or Mastercard linked to Alipay International. In Alipay, open the transit / 乘车码 (ride-code) feature, pick Guangzhou Metro, and scan the QR at the gate on the way in and out. Set Alipay up before you fly. The cash backup is a physical Yang Cheng Tong (羊城通) transit card, sold and topped up at stations. Since 12 October 2025 you can also tap a foreign-issued Mastercard, Visa, American Express or JCB straight at the gate, with no app and no advance purchase — look for the card-scheme logos on the gate, and make sure contactless is enabled on the card.
How much does the Guangzhou Metro cost?
Fares are distance-based — roughly ¥2 minimum, rising to about ¥14 for the longest cross-city rides. Most central tourist trips cost ¥2-6. There is no flat fare and no need to work out the price in advance: with an Alipay QR the system charges the correct distance fare automatically when you scan out.
Which Guangzhou Metro line is most useful for tourists?
Line 3 — the busy north-south spine. It runs from Baiyun Airport in the north down through the Tianhe CBD (体育西路, 珠江新城) to Canton Tower (广州塔) and on to Chimelong. One thing to watch: Line 3 splits into a main branch and a Tianhe branch at 体育西路, so check the train's destination on the platform. Other useful lines: Line 1 (the old city — Gongyuanqian, Chen Clan Academy, Huangsha for Shamian Island), Line 2 (Guangzhou South Station, Yuexiu Park), Line 6 (Beijing Road, the Sacred Heart Cathedral area), and the APM line (Canton Tower to Huacheng Square).
Is there English on the Guangzhou Metro?
Yes — English support is good. Station names appear in both Chinese and English (and often Cantonese romanisation) on maps, platform signs and in-car displays; announcements are made in Mandarin, Cantonese and English. Ticket machines have an English mode. A first-time visitor can navigate the network comfortably in English.
What are the Guangzhou Metro operating hours?
Roughly 6:00am to about 23:00, with last-train times varying by line and station — generally a little later from the central interchanges, earlier from the outer ends. If you are out late, check the last-train time for your specific line, or plan on a DiDi. The metro does not run overnight.
Is there a security check to enter the Guangzhou Metro?
Yes — every station entrance has an airport-style X-ray bag scanner, standard across mainland Chinese metros. Put bags through the scanner; large liquids may be checked. It adds a minute or two at busy stations. Unlike high-speed rail, the metro is not real-name — the gates read your fare QR, not your passport.

Related Guangzhou guides

Sources: editorial team based in Chongqing (8-year mainland-China resident, regular Alipay-QR metro user), editor's about page, the Guangzhou Metro network map, and aggregated r/travelchina threads 2024-2026. Fares, line branches and operating hours change — check current details before you ride.