By Subway

Guangzhou has an efficient metro system opened in 1999, which covers much of the city center and is growing rapidly outward. The fare ranges from £¤2 to £¤9. Most of the signs and announcements are also in English. Tickets are bought from vending machines in the stations. You may need to change your money at the service counter into £¤1 coins, which you then insert in the vending machine after you have chosen your destination. You get a small plastic token, which you use at the gate when entering the platform. When you reach your destination, you insert the token in the automatic exit gate.

There is also a comprehensive public bus service that covers Guangzhou from end to end. By far, it is the cheapest way to move around. Bus fares are £¤1 for the older buses and £¤2 for the air-conditioned ones, although the older buses are slowly being retired. There are also 3 tourist bus lines, passing through many scenic spots in the city.

This is the most popular way for foreigners to get around, and it is very affordable. The starting charge is £¤7 for the first 2.3 kilometers, or about 1.4 miles. After that is £¤2.6 for each kilometer. The cost may be slightly different, depend on the taxi operators. £¤1 fuel surcharge is now added. Although widely publicized, many of them actually do not accept Yang Cheng Tong as payments.

Tip: Business names and addresses on this guide are also in Chinese. Print them out and show them to the taxi drivers. Most drivers do not speak English; many not even Cantonese.

If you intend to stay in Guangzhou for an extensive period of time, it is highly advisable to purchase a multi-purpose Yang Cheng Tong (Ñò³Çͨ) stored value card, similar to the Octopus Card in Hong Kong. It can be used not only for public transportation (bus, subway, taxi and parking meter), but also for public phones and designated shops, places of interests and certain vending machines. The card includes a £¤30 refundable deposit. While you can purchase the cards in many places, returning your card at the end of the trip is a hassle, since service locations are limited. The best place to do so is at the service center at the metro Gong Yuan Qian station. It may be worth it to simply keep it as a souvenir.