Transport · Stations · Guangzhou
Guangzhou Railway Station
广州站. Guangzhou's historic central station for conventional rail, heavily used during the Spring Festival migration season, with Metro Lines 2 and 5.
About this station
Guangzhou Railway Station is one of China's most historically significant rail hubs: for decades, it was the terminus of the Beijing–Guangzhou line — the longest conventional rail route in the country — and the embarkation point for the vast seasonal migration that follows the Spring Festival holiday. The station processes more passengers in a single day during the chunyun peak than most European airports do in a month.
The current building, though functional, is dated — it was designed in the 1970s and expanded rather than rebuilt when high-speed rail came to Guangzhou. High-speed services largely migrated to Guangzhou South station after 2009, leaving the original station to handle overnight sleepers, conventional expresses, and the Through Train to Hong Kong's Hung Hom station (though this has seen reduced frequency since the Guangzhou South–West Kowloon high-speed link opened).
The station's location is genuinely central — Beijing Road, the city's main commercial strip, is within walking distance, and the Yuexiu area with its historical monuments is close by. For travellers spending time in Guangzhou rather than passing through, the older station's central position is an advantage over the suburban Guangzhou South.
Entry tips
The old Guangzhou station handles conventional-speed services and is adjacent to the main city-centre metro hub. Heavily used during the Spring Festival migration, when hundreds of millions of migrant workers travel home. Allow 35 minutes outside festival periods; 60 minutes during chunyun.
Security flow
Three-stage entry: baggage scan and ID check at the perimeter, waiting hall gate, platform scan. The station's access roads become heavily congested during Spring Festival — arrive by metro if possible.
Food inside the station
A large food court with Guangdong specialities including roast goose, dim sum items, congee, and wonton noodle soup. The standard of Cantonese food here is genuinely good by station standards.
Food nearby
The surrounding Huanshi area has Beijing Road pedestrian street within walking distance. The wholesale flower market on Zhongshan Avenue is a short walk and an interesting diversion.
Transit to the city
Metro Lines 2 and 5 serve the station, connecting to the city centre and Guangzhou South high-speed station. Line 2 to Guangzhou South takes approximately 40 minutes (CNY 6).