Panyu Railway Station (番禺站, Pānyú Zhàn) sits directly beneath Guangzhou South Railway Station (广州南站). It does two things that Guangzhou South’s high-speed trains can’t: run you straight to Baiyun Airport — 28 minutes to T3 (白云机场东) or ~31 minutes to T2 (白云机场北) — and to the Canton Fair complex at Pazhou (~15 minutes).
But the bigger story is what happens when you combine them. Panyu Station and Guangzhou South share the same building — a 5 or 10-minute indoor walk apart. That means Guangzhou Baiyun Airport is now one transfer away from Guangzhou South’s HSR network, which reaches Shenzhen, Hong Kong West Kowloon, Zhuhai, Huizhou, Guilin, Yangshuo, Yangjiang, Maoming, Zhanjiang, Chaozhou, Shantou, and beyond. Fly in, walk downstairs, board a train to anywhere. The reverse works the same way. No taxi. No metro transfer. No traffic.
Station Essentials
- English Name: Panyu Railway Station (also signed as Guangzhou South-Panyu)
- Chinese Name: 番禺站 (Pānyú Zhàn)
- Address: Directly beneath Guangzhou South Railway Station, Shibi, Panyu District, Guangzhou (广州市番禺区石壁街 — underground of 广州南站)
- Opened: May 26, 2024
- Platforms: 3 platforms, 4 tracks (1 island + 2 side platforms), underground level B2
- Operator: Guangdong Intercity Railway Operation Co., Ltd. (广东城际铁路运营有限公司), a subsidiary of Guangzhou Metro Group
- Metro Connections: Direct indoor passage to Guangzhou Metro Line 22 (2–3 min walk), Lines 2 & 7 (8 min walk), Foshan Metro Line 2 (15 min walk)
What Is Panyu Station? A Quick Explainer
Panyu Station is not a separate building you’ll see from the street. It sits one level below Guangzhou South’s arrival plaza — a dedicated underground terminal for the Guangdong Intercity Network. Think of it this way:
| Guangzhou South Station (广州南站) | Panyu Station (番禺站) | |
| Function | National high-speed rail (G, D trains) | Regional intercity (S trains) |
| Location | Ground level & above | Underground (B1–B2), directly beneath GZ South |
| Scale | 28 platforms, one of Asia’s largest HSR hubs | 3 platforms, 4 tracks — compact and fast to navigate |
| Where it goes | Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Kunming… anywhere in China | Baiyun Airport, Canton Fair (Pazhou), Dongguan, Huizhou, Zhaoqing, Foshan |
| Best for | Long-haul trips | Greater Bay Area hops, airport transfers, Canton Fair commutes |
| Ticket system | 12306 only | 12306 OR transit card / metro app QR code (dual system) |
How to Transfer: Guangzhou South ↔ Panyu Station
The two stations share the same complex but are operationally separate — you’ll exit one and enter the other, all underground.
- From Guangzhou South arrival hall: Follow signs marked “Panyu Station” or “Intercity Railway” (城际铁路). Walk toward the station’s east side — the passage is clearly signed in both Chinese and English.
- Walking time: 5–10 minutes via indoor walkway (moving walkways available). Exit G (G出口) is the primary connector to the intercity station.
- Key detail — separate security check: Panyu Station and the metro are not in a shared paid area. You must exit the metro fare gates and re-enter Panyu Station through its own security screening. Budget a few extra minutes for this.
- From Metro Line 22: The fastest metro-to-intercity connection — Line 22’s Guangzhou South Station concourse is directly linked to Panyu Station’s concourse. 2–3 minutes, follow signs to Exit Q direction.
Where Can You Go From Panyu Station?
Panyu Station is the hub for three intercity lines that opened in 2024–2025:
- Guangzhou East Ring Intercity (广州东环城际): Panyu ↔ Baiyun Airport — opened September 29, 2025. The game-changer.
- Pazhou-Lianhuashan Intercity (琶莲城际): Panyu ↔ Canton Fair (Pazhou) — also opened September 29, 2025.
- Guangzhou–Foshan–Zhaoqing Intercity (广佛肇城际): via the west-east corridor through Foshan and onward to Zhaoqing.
- Guangzhou–Huizhou Intercity (广惠城际): eastward via Dongguan to Huizhou.
All trains are S-trains (城际列车), operating at up to 160 km/h with metro-style frequency — no assigned seats, just tap in and go.
Panyu Station to Baiyun Airport
This is why Panyu Station is important. Instead of a 70+ minute metro slog with 20+ stops, you can now take a direct intercity train from beneath Guangzhou South to Baiyun Airport in half an hour.
Which Airport Station Is Yours?
Baiyun Airport has two active intercity stations as of 2026. Make sure you book the right one:
| Station | Airport Terminal | Walk to Check-in |
| 白云机场北 (Baiyun Airport North) | T2 | ~3 min via indoor passage |
| 白云机场东 (Baiyun Airport East) | T3 (main terminal since Jan 2026) | ~3–5 min walk — the only rail link to T3 |
- 白云机场南 (Baiyun Airport South / T1) is CLOSED. T1 shut down on January 22, 2026 for a major renovation. All 11 airlines formerly at T1 moved to T3. As of May 7, 2026, both the metro and intercity stations at T1 are “飞站” — trains pass through without stopping. Do not buy a ticket to Airport South.
Check Live Train Schedule
| Baiyun Airport North to Panyu train (T2 to Guangzhou South) |
Panyu to Baiyun Airport North train (Guangzhou South to T2) |
- Use Baiyunjichangbei as Baiyun Airport North (T2) to search the train schedule.
- Use Baiyunjichangnan as Baiyun Airport South (T1) to search the train schedule.
- Use Baiyunjichangdong as Baiyun Airport East (T3) to search the train schedule.
Train Types: Express vs. Local
The line uses four service tiers — the difference matters:
| Type | Stops | Panyu → T3 (Airport East) | Panyu → T2 (Airport North) | Daily Frequency |
| Direct (直达) | 0 intermediate stops | ~28 min | ~31 min | ~3–5 per day |
| Express (特快) | ~5 key stations only | ~35 min | ~36–40 min | Select departures |
| Semi-express (大站快车) | ~9 major stops | ~40–45 min | ~41–50 min | ~18 per day |
| Local (站站停) | All 13 stations | ~75–80 min | ~80–89 min | ~28 per day |
| Search trains on www.trip.com/trains/china/ | ||||
Panyu Station to Canton Fair (Pazhou 琶洲)
If you’re in town for the Canton Fair, this is your commute:
- Route: Panyu Station → Pazhou Station (琶洲站) via the Pazhou-Lianhuashan Intercity (琶莲城际)
- Distance: ~17.5 km
- Travel time: ~10–15 minutes (depending on stops)
- Fare: ~10–15 RMB (estimate, check 12306 for exact price)
- Frequency: Regular service throughout the day — integrated into the same 273-train daily network
- Pazhou Station connections: Direct transfer to Guangzhou Metro Lines 8 and 11
This replaces what used to be a 55+ minute metro ride (Line 2 → Line 8) and is far more reliable than a taxi in Fair-season traffic.
The Air-Rail Bridge: Baiyun Airport ↔ HSR Network, One Transfer
Here’s the insight most travelers haven’t caught yet: Panyu Station and Guangzhou South are in the same building. That turns Guangzhou Baiyun Airport into a rail-connected hub for the entire southern China HSR grid — with exactly one indoor transfer.
Airport → HSR: Land, Walk, Ride
You land at Baiyun Airport T2 or T3. You take the intercity train to Panyu Station (28–31 min on the fastest trains). You walk 5–10 minutes upstairs. You board a G-train to one of these destinations:
| Destination | G-Train from GZ South | Total from Airport (approx.) |
| Shenzhen (深圳) | ~30 min | ~1 hr 10 min |
| Hong Kong West Kowloon (香港西九龙) | ~50 min | ~1 hr 30 min |
| Zhuhai (珠海) | ~55 min | ~1 hr 35 min |
| Huizhou South (惠州南) | ~1 hr | ~1 hr 40 min |
| Yangjiang (阳江) | ~1.5 hr | ~2 hr 10 min |
| Yangshuo (阳朔) | ~2 hr | ~2 hr 40 min |
| Guilin (桂林) | ~2 hr | ~2 hr 40 min |
| Maoming (茂名) | ~2 hr | ~2 hr 40 min |
| Zhanjiang (湛江) | ~2.5 hr | ~3 hr 10 min |
| Chaozhou (潮州), via Chaoshan Station | ~2 hr 45 min | ~3 hr 25 min |
| Shantou (汕头) | ~3 hr | ~3 hr 40 min |
- One transfer. All indoors. Airport → intercity → short walk → HSR. No taxi, no metro, no traffic.
- All G-trains depart from Guangzhou South, the same building you’re standing in after getting off the intercity.
HSR → Airport: The Reverse
It works exactly the same going the other way. Take a G-train to Guangzhou South from Shenzhen (30 min), Hong Kong (50 min), Zhuhai (55 min), Yangshuo (~2 hr), Guilin (~2 hr), or anywhere on the HSR grid → walk 5–10 minutes downstairs to Panyu Station → intercity to Baiyun Airport T2 or T3 (28–31 min). One walk, one train, check in.
- Compare with the old way: HSR to Guangzhou South → Metro Line 2 → transfer to Line 8 or 3 → arrive at the airport ~70–80 minutes later, dragging luggage through two or three metro interchanges. The Panyu Station route cuts that to a single indoor walk and a 28-minute train.
How to Buy Tickets — Dual System Explained
Panyu Station is unique in China: it accepts both the national railway ticket system AND city transit payment methods. You choose:
| Method | How | Pros | Cons |
| 12306 APP | Search “番禺” → “白云机场东” (T3) or “白云机场北” (T2). Buy like a regular train ticket. Blue gate entry. | Guaranteed seat availability; shows express/direct options clearly; English interface available | Must book in advance; refund/exchange rules apply |
| Guangzhou Metro APP / Transit Card | Open Guangzhou Metro APP → “城际乘车码” (Intercity QR code). Or tap your Yangchengtong / Lingnantong / China T-Union card. Red gate entry. | Walk-up, no booking needed; pay-as-you-go; same pricing | No seat guarantee (first-come, first-served); harder to identify express vs. local trains on the platform |
- For foreign travelers: 12306 with a passport-verified account is the more reliable option — you can see the exact schedule, pick the express train, and buy a specific departure time. The English 12306 app interface is usable.
- Transit card method: Your foreign passport-registered Yangchengtong or a China T-Union card from another city works. But first-time setup of the Guangzhou Metro APP in English can be frustrating — if you haven’t already set it up, stick with 12306.
- Trip.com: Search intercity trains on Trip.com — Trip.com sells S-train tickets alongside regular HSR tickets. Search for “Guangzhou South” to your destination and look for S-train results.
Station Layout & Facilities
Panyu Station has two underground levels:
- B1 (Concourse Level): Ticket counters, self-service machines, security screening, waiting area, shops, restrooms. G Exit connects to Guangzhou South Station’s east plaza, Metro Lines 2/7/22, and Foshan Metro Line 2.
- B2 (Platform Level): 3 platforms serving 4 tracks. Trains to Baiyun Airport / Pazhou depart from clearly marked platforms. Check the departure board for your platform number.
- Facilities: Barrier-free elevators, accessible restrooms, AED defibrillators, shared power bank stations, vending machines, luggage-friendly escalators
- Main exit for transfers: G Exit (G出口) — this is the only exit with a direct non-paid-area passage to the metro concourse and Guangzhou South Station’s east entrance
Practical Tips for Foreign Travelers
- Plan 20 minutes for the transfer: HSR platform → exit gates → walk to Panyu Station → security check → find platform. It’s all indoors, but the stations are large. 20 minutes is safe; 10 is possible if you know the layout.
- Don’t take the local train to the airport: An 89-minute ride with 13 stops makes no sense when an express takes 35–40 minutes for the same price. Always check the train type on the departure board or in 12306.
- Check which airport terminal you need: T2 = Airport North (白云机场北), T3 = Airport East (白云机场东). T1 is closed (since January 2026). Getting off at the wrong one isn’t a disaster — T2 ↔ T3 is a 6-minute intercity hop for ¥5, trains every ~15 minutes. But check your flight terminal before buying the ticket to avoid the extra step.
- Combine with a HSR trip — both directions: This is the insight most travelers miss. Fly into Baiyun Airport → intercity to Panyu Station (28–31 min) → walk upstairs → HSR to Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Yangshuo, Guilin, Zhanjiang, Shantou, or the western Guangdong coast. Reverse: HSR to Guangzhou South → walk downstairs → intercity to Baiyun Airport → fly out. One transfer, all indoors. See the Air-Rail Bridge section for the full timetable. Compare this with the old way — metro with 2–3 interchanges dragging luggage — and you’ll understand why this station matters.
Related Articles
- Guangzhou South Railway Station Guide — The HSR station above Panyu: layout, metro, food, tips
- Guangzhou South Station (Panyu) to Baiyun Airport by Intercity Train — Full step-by-step airport transfer guide
- Pazhou Railway Station Guide — Canton Fair transport hub
- Baiyun Airport North Railway Station Guide — Intercity and metro at T2
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