Metro, Guangzhou

This photo gives you an idea of what the Guangzhou Metro System platforms are like... As you can see, very modern, fairly orderly and lots of colorful backlit advertisements, including ads for American products such as KFC, McDonald's, and the Colgate toothpaste ad shown here... Unlike in most Western countries, there is almost always a security guard at each metro station platform to guard the place and assist people...

As you can see in the picture here, the boundaries of the ancient walled city of Guangzhou -- that very old city, called by many names, such as Canton or Chu Ting, a city at least 2000 years old, known to the Romans, and the Arabs, and all the others down the line -- those boundaries only cover a small portion of what is today central Guangzhou. The farthest northern tower of the old walled city is the only one that still exists and you can see it when you visit Yuexiu Gongyuan. In ancient times, Guangzhou was the most important trading center in South China as Hong Kong did not exist until the mid-19th century or so...

Guangzhou Main Train Station is conveniently reached by taking the metro as you can see by the metro map here. This is the biggest train station in Guangzhou and will probably be the one you will use to get to most provinces of China, however, it does not have trains to Hong Kong as those trains use the Guangzhou East Train Station. Trains to Beijing take approximately 24 hours and Shanghai is 27 hours (slower train).

There is also a CITS office right next to the main train station as well as two large long distance bus stations, McDonald's, various hotels, etc...

Like the main train station, the Guangzhou East Train Station, called Guangzhou Dong Zhan, is easily accessible by the metro system as seen in the metro map shown here. This is the train station you will be using when arriving or departing from/to Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Trains to Hong Kong take only about 2 hours and often it is not necessary to by tickets in advance...

Don't trust at all for the direction information. Because the line 2 yet still on progress without any notice but already show on in the ticketing where if you go to buy the ticket and you will never get it untill you asking the other.

The subway route is limited, but it gets you to most of the good areas. It is excellent if you want to get across town quickly. Running from the East Train Station to the Fancun Bus Station, it is very convenient if you need to get a bus in Guangdong or a train out.

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metro or subway in Gz has 5 lines, very convenience and cheap to go around.
Pic is only to show the atmosphere of the metro station

This city is served by two modern and efficient underground lines.

Line 1 - Guangzhoudongzhan - Xilang
Line 2 - Sanyuanli - Pazhou
Interconnection: Gongyuanqian

If you get off to East station, you can take the metro to downtown/your hotel or other part of Guangzhou. It will cost you less than RMB 6.