Guangzhou Baiyun Airport(CAN) Terminal 3 Guides
On 30 October 2025, with the official launch of Terminal 3 (T3), Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) – one of China’s three core international aviation hubs – ushered in a new operational era of "five runways + three terminals". Strategically located within the airport premises, T3 maintains a ground distance of 7–9 kilometers from both Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2), with a straight-line distance as short as 2 kilometers, and integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure through a smart transportation network to facilitate efficient passenger transfers.
Covering a total construction area of 683,300 square meters, T3 adopts a "centralized main building + concourses" layout, encompassing a main terminal and East, West, and North concourses. The structure features 2–5 above-ground floors and 1 underground floor (with a partial second underground level), standing 42.95 meters tall. Alongside T3’s commissioning, CAN became China’s first civil airport with five commercial runways, enabling more flexible and efficient operations. As of late 2025, five domestic airlines—China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, China United Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, and Okay Airways—have completed the first-phase transfer of their domestic flights to T3, while China Eastern’s international services remain temporarily at T1 during the phased transition. Designed to handle up to 30 million passengers annually at full capacity, T3 will welcome more carriers by 2026.
T3 distinguishes itself globally with innovative designs and cutting-edge technologies that redefine the airport experience. Its architectural highlight is an 8-petal-shaped roof inspired by Guangzhou’s "Flower City" reputation, earning it the nickname "Yangcheng Flower Crown" and blending Lingnan culture with modern aesthetics. It houses China’s first open-air panoramic plane-watching platform, accessible even to non-passengers, where aircraft takeoffs and landings occur approximately once per minute—attracting over 100,000 visits in its first month. Boasting 10,000 square meters of indoor and outdoor gardens, including China’s largest airside ecological garden and a botanical garden with rare plants from across continents, T3 creates a unique "garden-in-airport" ambiance. Equipped with biometric check-in/boarding systems, automated baggage handling, and RFID security screening, it streamlines travel processes and reduces wait times. Its integrated transportation center (GTC) offers "air-land-rail" zero-distance transfers via 6 platforms and 14 railway lines, enabling 30-minute access to Guangzhou’s city center and 60-minute connectivity to major GBA cities.
Transportation
Terminal 3 can be reached by the intercity railway, taxi, and airport bus.
As of December 2025, no direct metro line connects to T3. Under planning, the northern extension of Metro Line 22 and the eastern extension of Metro Line 3 will connect to T3, with an expected opening around 2027-2028.
East Ring Intercity Railway
The only rail transit hub connecting T3 now is the Guangzhou East Ring Intercity Railway. Its railway station- Baiyun Airport East Station (白云机场东站), is located on the B2 floor of the T3 Transportation Center, passengers can reach the terminal departure level in 3 minutes after exiting through Exits A and B.
For Guangzhou South Railway Station connections, passengers can take the East Ring Intercity to Panyu Station, which has 3 one-way direct trains daily with a 28-minute journey, then transfer to high-speed rail for a 10-minute ride to Guangzhou South Station. The total travel time is about 40-50 minutes, with a total fare of RMB30-35 .
For downtown areas such as Tianhe Sports Center West or Guangzhou East Railway Station, passengers can tak the intercity from T3 to Baiyun Airport North/South Station and transferring to Metro Line 3, with a total travel time of 45-60 minutes and a combined fare of about RMB12
For China Import and Export Fair Complex (Pazhou Complex), passengers can tak the intercity from T3 to Panzhou Railway Station directly. The travel time is 30-50 minutes, the ticket fare is RMB21, and the average interval is 30 minutes
For inter-terminal connections, the intercity trains operate in a circular route, linking three stations: Baiyun Airport South Station (for T1， 白云机场南站), Baiyun Airport North Station (for T2, 白云机场北站) and Baiyun Airport East Station (for T3， 白云机场东站). The journey from T3 to T2 takes only about 5 minutes, while from T3 to T1 it takes approximately 8-10 minutes, with a uniform one-way fare of around RMB5 . The average interval between Baiyun Airport North Station and East Station has been shortened to within 17 minutes, and the frequency is adjusted according to passenger flow: 10 minutes per train during peak hours (22:00-3:00), 20 minutes per train during regular hours (8:00-22:00), and 30 minutes per train during off-peak hours (3:00-8:00), fully covering flight departure and arrival periods . For transfers, passengers arriving at Baiyun Airport South Station (for T1) need to exit through Exit B, walk 200 meters and pass through the "Haitian Corridor" to reach Gate A4; those arriving at Baiyun Airport North Station (for T2) can seamlessly access the terminal via Exits C and D. Guangdong Intercity also strengthens the guidance by marking terminal information on network maps and broadcasting station-terminal correspondences on trains .
Airport Express Bus
The Airport Express boarding points are at the West Passenger Station on the first floor of T3 Transportation Center, covering key areas such as Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou, Tianhe Sports Center West, and Guangzhou East Railway Station.
The route to Guangzhou South Railway Station stops at T2 first, then takes Airport Second Expressway and North Second Ring Road, with a one-way trip of about 45 minutes and a fare of RMB25. It operates from 6:00 to 20:00, with departures every 30 minutes.
The Pazhou route goes directly to Canton Fair Complex via Keyun Road, taking 35 minutes one-way at a fare of RMB20, operating from 7:00 to 19:00 with 25-minute intervals.
The Tianhe Sports Center West route takes Airport Expressway and Guangzhou Avenue, about 40 minutes one-way at RMB22 , running from 5:30 to 21:00 every 20 minutes.
The Guangzhou East Railway Station route passes Yantang and Shahe, taking 35 minutes one-way at RMB20, operating from 6:00 to 20:30 with 30-minute intervals.
In addition, downtown routes also connect to intercity lines for Foshan, Dongguan, etc
Taxi
The taxi pick-up point is concentrated outside Gate 72 on the Arrival Level of T3 Terminal, which is clearly divided into short-distance taxi and long-distance taxi pick-up areas with 24-hour service availability. Short-distance taxis mainly serve travel needs within the airport area, Huadu District and Baiyun District, while long-distance taxis cater to trips to other urban areas of Guangzhou excluding Huadu District and Baiyun District.
Taxi fare calculation follows the unified charging standards for Guangzhou's cruise taxis . The specific standards are as follows: the initial base fare is RMB12 yuan, covering the first 3 kilometers; beyond 3 kilometers, the subsequent mileage fare is RMB2.6 per kilometer; when the taxi runs at a speed lower than 10 kilometers per hour, the waiting fee is RMB44 per hour; the empty return fee is charged in a tiered manner—20% of the subsequent mileage fare is added for trips between 15 and 25 kilometers, and 50% is added for trips over 25 kilometers; in addition, a 30% night service surcharge is applied to the subsequent mileage fare from 23:00 to 5:00 the next day. Meanwhile, fares also fluctuate during peak hours (7:00-10:00, 16:00-21:00) and off-peak hours (10:00-16:00). Fares can increase by 0%-30% during peak hours and decrease by 0%-30% during off-peak hours. For example, the fare from T3 to Tianhe Sports Center West (about 30 kilometers) during regular hours is approximately RMB12+27×2.6+(27-25)×2.6×50% = 83.2, and the night service surcharge will be added to this amount at night.
Free Shuttle bus between T3, T2, T1
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport offers 24-hour free shuttle buses for same-day ticket/boarding pass holders transferring between T1, T2 and T3. Boarding points are at Departure Level: T1 (Gate 12), T2 (Gate 42), T3 (Gate 62). The circular route is T1→T2→T3→T1, with a total travel time of about 40 minutes. Frequency adjusts by period: 10 mins/shift (peak 22:00-3:00), 20 mins/shift (regular 8:00-22:00), 30 mins/shift (off-peak 3:00-8:00). Buses stop briefly for drop-and-go, with direct access to the Departure Level of each terminal upon alighting.
Airlines
As of the end of 2025, 5 domestic airlines have completed the transfer to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Terminal 3 (T3), while international flights have not yet moved to T3.
The domestic transferred airlines include China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, China United Airlines, Juneyao Air, and Okay Airways. Their domestic inbound and outbound flights have been fully adjusted to operate at T3 since October 31, 2025 . Among them, China Eastern Airlines, as the core resident airline, includes member carriers such as Shanghai Airlines and China United Airlines. After the transfer, it operates approximately 205 daily domestic flights at T3, covering 104 routes.
Notably, China Eastern Airlines' international flights temporarily remain at Terminal 1. For code-sharing flights operated by the above airlines, passengers must follow T3's check-in guidelines .
In the initial operation stage, T3 focuses on domestic route services and has not yet undertaken the transfer of international and regional flights, which still operate at Terminals 1 and 2. The airport stated that it will gradually promote the transfer of international routes based on the growth of flight volume at T3 and hub planning, with specific information subject to official announcements from airlines and the airport .
Retaurants and foods
| Floor | Restaurant/Food Area Name/Cuisine/Type | Restaurants |
| 5th Floor | Lingnan Flavor Restaurant-Traditional Cantonese Cuisine, Global Cuisine Hub-International Fusion Cuisine, Cloud View Café | White Swan Hotel (Cantonese morning tea), Tao Tao Ju (roast meat & clay pot rice), Xibei Noodle Village (Northwest Chinese), Saizeriya (Italian casual), Tai'er Sour Fish (new-style Sichuan), Starbucks Reserve, Manner Coffee, Seesaw Coffee |
| 4th Floor | Departure Level Fast Food Zone-Fast Food/Simple Meals, International Departure Duty-Free Dining Area-Fine Light Meals/Beverages | Tsui Wah Restaurant (Hong Kong-style, 90-second quick serving), McDonald's, Kung Fu, Master Kong Private Beef Noodle, Haagen-Dazs, Pacific Coffee, Pizza Hut (light meal version) |
| 2nd Floor | Cloud Corridor Theme Restaurant Cluster-Diversified Cuisine Combination, Waiting Area Light Bite Stations-Snacks/Beverages | Guangzhou Restaurant (Cantonese cuisine), Hai Di Lao (hot pot), Tasty Steak (Western cuisine), Heytea, Naixue's Tea, Bao Shi Fu Pastry, Zhou Hei Ya (duck neck) |
| 1st Floor | Arrival Level Simple Meal Zone-Fast Food/Convenient Dining | 7-Eleven (convenience store food), Kung Fu (simple meals), Ganso (bakery) |
| Basement 1 (B1) | Transportation Transfer Floor Food Plaza | Lao Beijing Zhajiangmian (noodle), Yang Guofu Spicy Hot Pot, Yuan Ji Dumplings, Shuyi Roasted Grass Jelly |
Terminal 3 Layout
| Floor | Floor Name | Remarks (Entrances/Elevators) |
| 5th Floor | Land-side Dining & Observation Floor | 3,600㎡ centralized dining area (Cantonese morning tea, international cuisine); China’s first panoramic aviation observation deck (36.8m indoor AR zone, 41.8m rooftop outdoor platform); Lingnan arcade-style commercial street; management & office areas |
| 4th Floor | Domestic & International Departure Floor | Domestic (Check-in Islands C/D/E/G) & International Check-in Areas; 33,000㎡ column-free check-in hall; Domestic/International Departure Security Check Halls, International Joint Inspection Area; 6,500㎡ commerce (international departure duty-free, taxable retail, catering) |
| 3rd Floor | International Arrival Floor | International Joint Inspection Hall (border inspection, customs); Baggage Claim Area; 1,700㎡ international arrival duty-free area (fragrance & cosmetics, tobacco & alcohol, digital products); international transfer service counters |
| 2nd Floor | Domestic Mixed-flow Floor | Core waiting area for domestic departing/arriving passengers, connecting east/west finger corridor gates; 8,900㎡ cloud-side commercial corridor (luxury retail, catering); VIP lounges, mother-and-baby rooms, medical service points |
| 1st Floor | Domestic Arrival Floor | Domestic Baggage Claim Halls, Baggage Inquiry Office; ground transportation hub (taxi pick-up outside Gate 72, airport bus boarding at West Passenger Station); 1,500㎡ commerce (light meals, convenience stores, car rental) |
| Basement 1 (B1) | Transportation Transfer Floor | Ground Transportation Center (GTC); intercity train transfer exits, online-hailing car order/reception areas, P11/P12 parking building entrances; short-term parking, convenient service points (consultation, charging) |
| Basement 2 (B2) | Rail Transit & Baggage Handling Floor | Intercity train platforms, reserved subway platforms (under construction); terminal core baggage handling system (connecting each finger corridor sorting area); equipment rooms, staff passages |
Location and Map
Address: Lujia Town, Jianyang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) is located 63km southeast of the downtown of Chengdu, 67km southeast of Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, 56km southeast of Chengdu East Railway Station, and 57km southeast of Chengdu South Railway Station.
