Guangzhou's Official Expat Handbook, Explained
Last checked October 23, 2026 against official sources. How we check
Quick answer
“An Expat’s Guide to Living and Working in Guangzhou” is the Guangzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office’s handbook, released in April 2025 as a 29-page PDF on the city government portal and as printed copies. We are an independent guide, not affiliated with the Guangzhou government or its Foreign Affairs Office. We found no newer edition (checked October 23, 2026).
Key facts
| Publisher | Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipality (government) |
|---|---|
| Released | April 3, 2025 (official notice), before the 137th Canton Fair |
| Digital copy | Free PDF, 29 pages, on the Guangzhou government portal |
| Printed copy | Ports of entry and exit, immigration halls, International Neighborhoods |
| Newer edition | We found none (checked October 23, 2026) |
Next steps
Dotted underline: only secondhand sources report it so far. Tap or hover it for why, and check before you go.
This page explains “An Expat’s Guide to Living and Working in Guangzhou”, the handbook released by the Guangzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office in April 2025. We are an independent guide, not affiliated with the Guangzhou government or its Foreign Affairs Office.
What is the official handbook?
It is a guide for foreign residents and business visitors, released by the city’s Foreign Affairs Office. The office released it ahead of the 137th Canton Fair, according to its April 3, 2025 notice on the Guangzhou government portal.
It covers port visas, residence permits, mobile payment, transport, medical care, cultural activities and multilingual services, according to the notice. The PDF runs to 29 pages. An earlier bilingual “Guide for Foreigners in Guangzhou” appeared in 2021, according to China Daily’s government channel (state media) in January 2022.
How do I get the official copy?
Photo: Sun8908 · CC BY-SA 4.0 DetailsDownload the PDF from the official notice on the Guangzhou government portal, or scan the “Scan for PDF version” QR code on the printed copy’s back cover.
- Official notice and PDF link: Guangzhou International, April 3, 2025.
- Direct PDF: An Expat’s Guide to Living and Working in Guangzhou (PDF).
- Printed copy: pick one up at ports of entry and exit, immigration office halls, foreigner management service workstations and International Neighborhoods, according to the notice.
- Also mentioned: Guangzhou airport and the Canton Fair exhibition halls, according to Life of Guangzhou, a government-run portal. The official notice does not list those two.
Stock and locations can change. Ask at the desk if a rack is empty.
What is in each chapter?
The handbook has four parts. The table below sums up each one in our words and shows where our own guides go deeper.
| Handbook chapter | What it covers | Our deeper guide |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Hello, Guangzhou! | Basic facts about the city, its history and its symbols. | Things to do in Guangzhou |
| 02 Living: Arrival | Port visas, residence and work permit steps, with QR links to the police app. | Visa application, 30-day visa-free entry |
| 02 Living: Payment | Linking foreign cards to WeChat Pay and Alipay, and getting a SIM online. | Pay in China as a foreigner, eSIM guide |
| 02 Living: Transportation | Airport, high-speed rail, metro, bus, taxi, shared bikes, car rental. | Metro with foreign cards, Taxis, Airport to city |
| 02 Living: Schooling, social insurance | Schools for foreign children and insurance for foreign workers. | Not covered. Use the official handbook. |
| 02 Living: Hospitals | How to see a doctor, with a step chart. | Seeing a doctor in Guangzhou |
| 02 Living: Accommodation, daily necessities | Hotels, renting, utilities, Wi-Fi, waste sorting, parcels. | Hotel check-in, Registration, Where to stay |
| 03 Having Fun | Attractions, venues, libraries, local food, shopping, exhibitions. | Food guide, Shopping, Museums |
| 04 Falling in Love | Official websites, legal and consulate directories, hotline numbers. | Is Guangzhou safe? |
What will a newcomer get from it?
Photo: 中少 · CC BY-SA 4.0 DetailsThree things are most useful.
- The QR links. Many pages link to a government service, such as the residence-permit mini-program of the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau.
- The hotline page. It lists numbers such as 12345 (the Mayor’s Hotline), 960169 (multilingual service), 120, 119 and 110.
- The renting table. The Accommodation pages show typical costs when you rent, such as deposit and agent fee.
What should I check before relying on it?
Treat it as an April 2025 snapshot. Fares, visa rules and app screens change. Our guides carry a checked date at the top, so compare before you act. For visas, use the 30-day visa-free entry guide.
The handbook is also not built for short tourist trips. It leans toward residents and business visitors.
Is there a newer edition?
We found none. Searches in English and Chinese on October 23, 2026 returned only the April 2025 notice, and no 2026 notice appeared on the Guangzhou International section. That is not proof that none exists. Check the Guangzhou International site or ask at an International Neighborhood.
Traps and how to avoid them
- Treating the handbook as current rules
It is an April 2025 snapshot. Check visa, fare and price details on the official service named in it, or in our dated guides, before you act.
- Thinking this site is the handbook
Guangzhou Handbook is independent and not affiliated with the government or the handbook. Only the Foreign Affairs Office publishes it.
FAQ
Is Guangzhou Handbook the official Guangzhou handbook?
No. Guangzhou Handbook is an independent English travel site. The official handbook is “An Expat’s Guide to Living and Working in Guangzhou”, published by the Guangzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office in April 2025.
Is the official handbook free?
The government notice offers a digital and a printed copy and does not mention a price; Life of Guangzhou, a government-run portal, calls the printed copy free. The PDF downloads from the portal without signing in.
Is there a 2026 edition?
We found no newer edition (checked October 23, 2026). Searches in English and Chinese returned only the April 2025 notice, so the 2025 PDF is the version we can point to.
Does it cover visas for tourists?
Only briefly. Its Arrival section covers port visas and residence and work permits. For visa-free entry rules, use our dated visa guides.
Sources
- Guangzhou International: New guidebook released to faciliate global travelers for upcoming Canton Fair (April 3, 2025)
- Official PDF: An Expat's Guide to Living and Working in Guangzhou (Guangzhou government portal)
- Newsgd (government-run portal): New guidebook released for the Canton Fair (April 2, 2025)
- Life of Guangzhou (government-run portal): printed copy locations (April 10, 2025)
- China Daily (state media): Guangzhou releases latest guide for foreigners (2021 guide, January 20, 2022)
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