China Travel Advice

Q: I will be arriving in Guangzhou Airport next week and I know that there are buses to some Guangzhou Long Distance Bus Terminal. I understand that some bus terminals have business class coaches to Shantou. In your opinion, which long distance bus terminal should I use if I wish to take more confortable express coaches to Shantou leaving at around 3-5pm? Thanks.

There are quite a few long distance bus stations in Guangzhou. The following are the main ones. Provincial Bus Passenger Transportation Station (Sheng Qiche Zhan) is located close to Guangzhou Railway Station (Tel.: 020 8666 1297). Guangzhou Municipal Bus Station (Guangzhou Shi Qiche Zhan) is at No. 158 Huanshi Xi Lu (No. 158 Western Beltway) (Tel.: 020 8668 4259). Liuhua Bus Station (Liuhua Qiche Zhan) is next to Guangzhou Railway Station (Tel.: 020 8666 4123). Tianhe Passenger Transportation Station is located at Yuangang on Guangzhou-Shantou Freeway (Tel.: 020 8774 1083).

You should be able to find the bus you need at these terminals. There are ordinary buses (putong daba), luxurious coaches (haohua daba), and luxurious business coaches (haohua shangwu daba). Fares range from ¥120 to ¥200. Bus travel time is 5-6 hours.

As indicated above, three of the four main long distance bus terminals mentioned are close to Guangzhou Railway Station. The fourth, Tianhe Station is located in the eastern part of the city, on Guangzhou-Shantou Freeway (it can be accessed by subway). There are many Shantou-bound buses, especially at Provincial Bus Station and Tianhe Bus Station, that depart from early morning into the night, every hour or so.