Hello, fellow travelers! If you’re dreaming of the coastal charm and delicious seafood of Zhanjiang but dread the long journey, I have fantastic news for you. The Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway is now open, and with it comes the brand new Zhanjiang North Station (Zhanjiangbei), making your trip smoother and faster than ever.
1 Zhanjiang North Station: A Quick Overview
Let’s start with the essential facts about this new hub:
- English Name: Zhanjiangbei Railway Station (Zhanjiangbei).
- Chinese Name: 湛江北站 (Zhànjiāng Běi Zhàn).
- Station Type: High-speed rail terminus station.
- Address: Xiashan District, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province.
- Opened: December 22, 2025.
2 Getting to the City from Zhanjiang North
Arriving at the new Zhanjiang North station can be confusing, but getting to downtown Zhanjiang from here is straightforward. The station is well-integrated with various local transport options.
- By Taxi & Ride-Hailing (Didi): Follow signs to the dedicated taxi pick-up zone or the ride-hailing (like Didi) parking lots. The station has separate east and west parking areas for app-based cars. Just book your ride as usual and your driver will meet you there.
- By Public Bus: Four new bus lines (50, 51, 52, 53) were launched specifically to connect the station to key urban areas.
- Bus 50 links to the Xia Shan Zong Zhan (霞山总站) area, passing major spots like the Din Sheng Plaza and Affiliated Hospital.
- Bus 51 heads across the bay toward Nanyou (南油) in the Potou District.
- Bus 52 connects to Majiang Station (麻章车站), serving the Sports Center and Lingnan Normal College.
- Bus 53 runs to Haitian Bus Station (海田公交站), near the Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The bus schedules are coordinated with the first and last train arrivals, so you should have a ride available no matter when you get in.
3 A New Corridor for Travel from Guangzhou
🚄 New Change: A Second, Faster Corridor from Guangzhou
For years, the only high-speed rail option to Zhanjiang from Guangzhou was from the giant Guangzhou South Station (广州南站 Guangzhounan) to Zhanjiang West Station (湛江西站 Zhanjiangxi). While reliable, Guangzhou South is quite far from the city center, often requiring a long metro ride to reach.
With the new Guangzhou-Zhanjiang high speed railway. You now have a fantastic alternative: boarding at the modern Guangzhou Baiyun Station (广州白云站) and riding directly to the new Zhanjiang North Station. This is a significant upgrade for two reasons:
- Location: Guangzhou Baiyun Station is generally more convenient for those in central Guangzhou than the southern station. Similarly, Zhanjiang North is closer to the heart of Zhanjiang than Zhanjiang West.
- Speed: This new corridor is dramatically faster.
| Route | Train Frequency (Daily) | Duration | Fares (Starting From) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou Baiyun → Zhanjiang North | 32 trains | 1h 32min – 2h 17min | CNY 264 |
| Guangzhou South → Zhanjiang West | 38 trains | 2h 34min – 3h 19min | CNY 185 |
Jack’s advice:
- If you want the fastest possible journey, choose the new Guangzhou Baiyun to Zhanjiang North route.
- If you are closer to Guangzhou South Station or are looking for the most budget-friendly option, the traditional route to Zhanjiang West is still excellent.
- Looking ahead, by 2026, services are expected to start from the centrally-located Guangzhou Railway Station as well, offering even more flexibility.
Getting to Your Departure Station in Guangzhou:
- Guangzhou Baiyun Station: Connected to Metro Line 8, Line 12.
- Guangzhou South Station: Served by Metro Line 2, Line 7, Line 22, and the Foshan Metro Line 2.
🇭🇰 Traveling from Hong Kong
The opening of the new line doesn’t currently change the direct high-speed rail services from Hong Kong. Direct trains (like the daily G6048/G6046 service) still run from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Zhanjiang West Station only. For more frequent options, you can take a train to Guangzhou South Station and transfer there to a service to Zhanjiang West.
Read: Hong Kong to Zhanjiang by train
🇨🇳 Traveling from Shenzhen
Similarly, direct services from Shenzhen (from Shenzhen North Station) also currently terminate at Zhanjiang West Station, with a few services per day. For more schedule flexibility, traveling via Guangzhou South Station for a transfer remains a good strategy.
4 Zhanjiang’s Train Stations: Which One to Use?
To avoid confusion, remember that Zhanjiang has three main passenger stations:
- Zhanjiang North Station (湛江北站): The newest and most centrally located high-speed rail station. This is your best arrival point for most trips, especially from Guangzhou Baiyun.
- Zhanjiang West Station (湛江西站): The older high-speed rail station, located further from downtown. It remains the primary station for direct trains from Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and many from Guangzhou South.
- Zhanjiang Station (湛江站): The original main station, primarily serving conventional-speed (non-high-speed) trains. Most travelers will not use this station.
In short, for high-speed travel, you’ll be dealing with either the new Zhanjiang North or the older Zhanjiang West. Always double-check your ticket to confirm your arrival station!
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