Hong Kong – Guangzhou South / Guangzhou East by Bullet Train

Introduction

When traveling between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, taking a train is a fast and convenient option. Starting from January, 2023, there are two rail routes available for Hong Kong – Guangzhou train:

hongkong-shenzhen-guangzhou-high-speed-railway

new-guangzhoudong-route-for-hongkong-guangzhou-train2

High Speed Railway & Guangzhou Metro Map

hongkong-shenzhen-guangzhou-high-speed-rail

guangzhou-metro-network

 Train Schedule, Fares & Duration

There are two train routes available between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and below are the schedules for each.

1. Guangzhounan Route

The Guangzhounan route includes stops:  Hong Kong West Kowloon – Futian –  Shenzhenbei – Humen – Guangzhounan (Guangzhou South).

The Guangzhounan Route takes you from Hong Kong West Kowloon through Futian, Shenzhenbei, Humen, and finally to Guangzhounan. With 28 daily trains in each direction, the journey spans between 47 minutes to 1 hour and 11 minutes. Operating from 08:28 to 22:39 departing from Hong Kong and 07:04 to 21:45 from guangzhounan, the fare for this swift and convenient service is ¥215.

hongkong-shenzhen-guangzhou-high-speed-railway

new-guangzhoudong-route-for-hongkong-guangzhou-train2

2. Guangzhoudong Route

The Guangzhoudong route includes stops: Hong Kong West Kowloon – Futian – Shenzhenbei – Dongguannan – Changping – Dongguan – Guangzhoudong (Guangzhou East).

Alternatively, the Guangzhoudong Route offers a scenic ride from Hong Kong West Kowloon, stopping at Futian, Shenzhenbei, Dongguannan, Changping, Dongguan, and concluding at Guangzhoudong. With 10 daily trains in each direction, this route provides a travel duration of 1 hour and 29 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes. Operating from 08:06 to 21:00 from Hong Kong and 07:57 to 20:18from Guangzhou, the fare remains at a competitive ¥215.

Which Train Station: Guangzhounan vs Guangzhoudong

guangzhou-south-railway-station

guangzhoudong-railway-station

If you are traveling from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, you will arrive at either Guangzhounan Station (Guangzhou South) or Guangzhoudong Station (Guangzhou East).

Photo guide: how to take a train from Guangzhou South

arrive-guangzhou-south-by-metroYou can get to Guangzhou South Station by metro

metro-entrance-kTake the entrance K to get from the metro to Guangzhou South Railway Station.

go-to-trainJust walk through the corridor to go to the station waiting area.

arrive-guangzhou-southIf your train is from Guangzhou South to Zhuhai, you don\'t need to go to the leavel 3. Just at level 1 to find your train.

escalator-to-waiting-areaTake this escalator to get to level 3, the waitting area.

guangzhou-south-station-waiting-areawaiting area of Guangzhou South

overview-guangzhou-southGet a feel on how big Guangzhou South is.

information-boardFind which check-in gate is for your train on the screen board. It offers English version.

check-in-gateCheck-in gates B11 and 10B

find-your-trainAfter boarding begins, you just have your tickets checked. Then take the escalator down to find your train.

vibrant-express-to-hongkong-at-guangzhou-southThe Vibrant Express to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station stopping at Guangzhou South Railway Station.

second-class-seat-vibrant-expressSecond class seat on Vibrant Express

first-class-seat-vibrant-expressFirst class seat on Vibrant Express

guangzhou-metro-network

train-station-map-guangzhou

You can take metro to Guangzhou South or Guangzhou East, just use the official Guangzhou Metro website https://cs.gzmtr.com/ckfwEnglish/ to plan your route.

Differences	Guangzhou South Station	Guangzhou East Station
Location	Panyu District in southern edge of city	centrally-located in Tianhe District in eastern part of city
Train Services	High-speed and regional	High-speed and regular
Transportation	Direct connection to Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link Connected to Guangzhou Metro line 2, line 7, line 22 & Foshan metro line 2	More accessible for travelers staying in Guangzhou or heading to the central and eastern Guangdong Province; Connected to Guangzhou Metro lines 1 and line 3
Facilities	Modern and spacious, with a wide range of shops and services	Similar amenities, with a more central location
Travel time	Shorter travel time to Hong Kong	Longer travel time to Hong Kong
Connections	More convenient for Hong Kong, Beijing, Wuhan, Changsha, Guilin, Nanning etc	Better for Shenzhen, Dongguan, and other cities in eastern and central Guangdong Province
Trains to HK	27 daily	9-10 daily
To Baiyun Airport	Line 2 (blue) to Jiahewanggang Station, transfer to Line 3 (orange) to Airport South Station (approx. 70 mins); Airport Express bus to airport in 50-60 mins	Line 3 (orange) to Airport South Station (approx. 50 mins)

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station

hongkong-west-kowloon-by-mtr

hongkong-west-kowloon-station-mtr-kowloon-austin-station

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is currently the only train station that operates high speed trains to Guangzhou South & Guangzhou East. The other original Hum Hom Station no longer operates through train services to Guangzhou East. So, HK West Kowloon is your only opertion. You can take the MTR to the West Kowloon Station. It is located between Kowloon Station & Austin Station. Just use www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/jp2/ to plan your route.

Photo Guide: how to take a train from HK West Kowloon

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong: Entrance to HK West Kowloon Station from Austin MTR Station. Passengers can get to HK West Kowloon Station by MTR by arriving at Austin Station or Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong: Entrance to HK West Kowloon Station from Austin MTR Station. Passengers can get to HK West Kowloon Station by MTR by arriving at Austin Station or Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Link way from Austin station to West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Link way from Austin station to West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards departure area for security checks.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards departure area for security checks.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Self-service ticket machine for HK citizens. These don't accept foreigner's passports. Visitors & passport holders must collect or buy tickets from ticket counters next to machines in HK West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Self-service ticket machine for HK citizens. These don't accept foreigner's passports. Visitors & passport holders must collect or buy tickets from ticket counters next to machines in HK West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards HK and China Immigration Area. No photos allow in this area. You clear both China and HK immigration in HK West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards HK and China Immigration Area. No photos allow in this area. You clear both China and HK immigration in HK West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): depaturesPhotos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): depatures

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Queue to go down to train platform by escalator.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Queue to go down to train platform by escalator.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Trains from HK West Kowloon Station to China cities (Xiamen). Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Trains from HK West Kowloon Station to China cities (Xiamen).

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station Port operation time: 06:30 – 23:30

How to Buy Tickets Online

There are several ways to book your train tickets online. Just remember that booking herizon for train tickets opens 15 days before your travel date. It is recommended to book you tickets as soon as possible in advance to secure your seat at your desired departure time.

Check Live English Schedule

guangzhou-hongkong-train-schedule-chinahighlights

• Check: China Highlights

hongkong-guangzhou-timetables-12306-china-railway

• Check: 12306 China Railway

guangzhou-hongkong-high-speed-train-schedule

• Check: Hong Kong MTR 

1. Book with 12306 China Railway

www.12306.cn is the offcial website of China Railway, which now has supported English. It also provides an offcial ticketing (English version) App – Tielu 12306 for both iOS and Android.

Jack’s friendly reminder: In the official site www.12306.cn, you can enter “hkw” or ‘hkwestkowloon‘ as Hong Kong West Kowloon Station; and “gzn”& “guangzhounan” as Guangzhou South; “gzd” & “guangzhoudong” as Guangzhou East.

2. Book with China Highlights

www.chinahighlights.com is a trusted online ticket agent who get possitive reviews & is  often recommended on Trip Advisor forum. They offer real-time train schedule online, English-language support, They can also provide assistance in case of any issues with your tickets or travel or when you’re running into trouble. Even they can deliver tickets to your hotel in advance. You can place orders with them any time. They are helpful, especially when you’re not familiar with the China’s transportation system or do not speak Chinese.

How to Buy Tickets at Train Station

If you prefer to purchase your train tickets in person at the train station, you can do so at either Guangzhou South Station, Guangzhou East Station, or Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. Remember to bring your passports or any other necessary documents when buying your tickets.

Which Ticket Window in Guangzhou East & Guangzhou South

The official China Railway has arranged designated ticket windows in Guangzhou South and Guangzhou East for Guangzhou – Hong Kong train services for buying or chaning tickets. They have professinal staffs at the desingated windows who speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

guangzhou-east-railway-station-ticket-window-8

waiting-room-no-4-hongkong-train

waiting-room-for-train-to-hk-at-guangzhoudong

ticket-check-for-train-to-hongkong

CRH trains to Shenzhen; High speed trains to Hong Kong West Kowloon are departing hereCRH trains to Shenzhen; High speed trains to Hong Kong West Kowloon are departing here

When to Buy Tickets

Tickets can be booked up to 15 days on the official 12306 China Railway website. It is always advisable to buy tickets in advance to secure ticket availability or seat assignment. Tickets tend to sell out quickly on this popular route especially during the bussy travel peak period, such as the public National Days (Gold Week), Labour’s Days, Chinese Moon Festival or Qingming Festival. But if you use an online ticket agent www.chinahighlights.com, you can order tickets any time with them and they will book it for you once the tickets are released online.

Immigration & Customs Procedures at Hong Kong West Kowloon

west-kowloon-station-navigation

hongkong-west-kowloon-station-mtr-kowloon-austin-station

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is a joint checkpoint between Hong Kong and mainland China, which means that border control and immigration procedures for both Hong Kong and mainland China are conducted in one place in Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. So prepare for all necessary travel documents like passports and visas at hand and allow surfficient time for the immigration and customs procedures for both Hong Kong and Manland sides.

How much time do I need to clear immigration at West Kowloon Station

It is advised to arrive at the West Kowloon Station at least 45 minutes before your departure time, as you need to go through both the Hong Kong Port and the Mainland Port on the same floor of the station. The immigration process may take longer during peak hours or holidays, so you should plan ahead and allow enough time for clearance.

Boarding Tips and Procedures

Make sure to arrive at the train station early enough before departure time to allow for ticket checks, immigration and custom procedures, security checks and boarding. You will need to present your passport and train ticket for verification before boarding the train.

Visa to Mainland China

You need a visa to enter mainland China if you are taking a train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. While most passports are granted visa on arrival for Hong Kong, you’ll still  need a visa to enter mainland China. Just apply it in advance.

FAQs

• Is there a fast train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou?

  • Yes, there are high-speed trains that run between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, with the fastest ones taking only around 45 minutes.

• Can you take a train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou?

  • Yes, you can take a train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to either Guangzhounan Station or Guangzhoudong Station in Guangzhou.

• How long is the train ride from Hong Kong to Guangzhou?

  • The train ride from Hong Kong to Guangzhou ranges from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 53 minutes, depending on the train route and stops.

• Are there any visa requirements for traveling between Hong Kong and Guangzhou by train?

  • Yes, foreign tourists must have valid visas for both Hong Kong and China when traveling between these two places.

Train Stations Video Guide

Guangzhou Train Stations Video Guides
Guangzhou South	Guangzhou East	Guangzhou Station

Hong Kong Train Travel Video Guides
HK West Kowloon	Arrive HK by train

Trusted Online Ticket Agents:

Option 1: Trip.com  is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc

Book a train

Option 2: China Highlights is a reliable online agency  for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.

Book a Train