Guangzhou to Beijing: High-Speed Train vs Flight

Is the train or the flight better from Guangzhou to Beijing?

The train is the simpler choice if you want to book with a passport and arrive in central Beijing; the flight is shorter in the air. This page gives only what we could source. For trains that is a China Railway 12306 query run on October 22, 2026 for Thursday, November 5, 2026. For flights it is terminals and airlines from Baiyun Airport’s own pages. We found no official air time, so there is none here, and no airfares: they vary by date, so compare on the airline’s site.

The sample did not include a Guangzhou South sleeper, and it had no trains from Guangzhou East or Guangzhou station.

Going to Shanghai as well? See Guangzhou to Shanghai.

Which high-speed train goes from Guangzhou South to Beijing?

12306, trains on November 5, 2026, lists six trains from Guangzhou South to Beijing West. Fares are second class.

The pattern is clear: three trains take under 8 hours and cost ¥1,033, and three take over 10 hours and cost ¥878. G306 continues to Beijing station (北京站), arriving 22:13 for ¥1,036. One more G train, G1580, leaves from Guangzhou Baiyun at 08:07 and reaches Beijing West at 19:13 (11h06, ¥871). First class on these trains was ¥1,394 to ¥1,653.

This is one date. Timetables change, so search 12306 for yours. Beijing station metro links are not in our data, so check your route in Amap.

What overnight trains run from Guangzhou to Beijing?

The sample lists five overnight trains, all from Guangzhou Baiyun (not Guangzhou South), which the Baiyun District government says opened in December 2023.

The 12306 query also priced standing tickets (无座) on Z and K trains at ¥251. We did not verify carriage layouts, so check the berth type in 12306 before you buy.

Z502 and Z14 also list a “high-grade soft sleeper” at ¥1,247 to ¥1,383.

How do I book?

1. Check the booking window. Tickets generally go on sale up to 15 days ahead, according to Travel China. November 5 was 14 days after our query.
2. Book on 12306 or Trip.com with your passport. The train ticket guide gives the steps and payment options. If 12306 rejects your phone number, see no Chinese phone number.
3. Enter your name and passport number as in your passport, and check the departure station.
4. On the day, arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Gates usually close 3 to 5 minutes before (Travel China), and most foreign passports must use the manual channel.

How do I get to the station?

Guangzhou South has Metro Lines 2, 7 and 22 and Foshan Metro Line 2 (Guangzhou government, May 2024). Our Guangzhou South guide covers the metro, taxi and arrival. Guangzhou Baiyun is on Metro Line 12 since June 29, 2025, per the Baiyun District government and our station guide. For payment on the metro, see paying the metro with a foreign card. For last-train times, see the metro’s official service page or the 广州地铁 app. Add your own transfer time: we give no door-to-door total.

Which terminal for the flight?

Your terminal depends on the airline that operates the flight. Baiyun’s airline list, checked October 18, 2026, puts China Southern (CZ) in Terminal 2, and Air China (CA), China Eastern (MU) and Hainan Airlines (HU) in Terminal 3. T1 closed to passengers on May 7, 2026.

T2 has Metro Line 3 to Airport North. T3 has no metro station: take Line 3 or 9 to Gaozeng (高增), Exit B, then the ¥2 airport bus (Guangzhou government, May 2026).

Our terminal guide lists airlines for each terminal and Baiyun Airport to the city covers transport.

Beijing has two airports, Capital (首都国际机场) and Daxing (大兴国际机场). We could not confirm which of them your airline uses from Guangzhou, so check the airport on your ticket. We did not verify how early the airport advises arriving for domestic flights, so check your airline’s rules.

Which should I choose?

• Daytime and rail-to-rail: a G train from Guangzhou South. The three faster trains cost ¥155 more than the slower ones.
• Saving a hotel night: an overnight train from Guangzhou Baiyun, accepting 22 hours or more on board.
• Time is critical: a flight, after comparing the airline’s timetable, the airport you land at and your own transfer time at both ends.

Beijing is in mainland China, so there is no border or immigration check. If you arrive from abroad first, see the 30-day visa-free guide. Going the other way, see Guangzhou to Shenzhen or Guangzhou to Hong Kong.