Cheap flights to Guangzhou (Canton)
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Guangzhou (Canton) and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
China
Continent
Asia
Airport
CAN
Currency
Chinese yuan (renminbi)
Time zone
UTC+8
Deals already spotted to Guangzhou (Canton)
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
Loading examples…
Why watch Guangzhou with SniperAir
You do not need to compare prices every day
Choose your departure
Tell us your departure airport and your maximum budget for a flight to Guangzhou.
SniperAir keeps watch
Our systems continuously compare new fares with the real price history of the route.
You get an alert
As soon as a fare matches your criteria you are notified, without searching for anything yourself.
A trading port
Guangzhou, the city that traded with the world
Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is the capital of Guangdong and a city of 18.7 million people across its administrative area at the 2020 census. It was founded as Panyu in 214 BC on the Pearl River, became a major terminus of the maritime Silk Road, and from 1757 to 1842 the Canton System made it the only legal place for foreign trade with China, through the Thirteen Factories. Its Canton Fair is described as the oldest and largest trade fair in China.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 214 BC | Founded as Panyu on the Pearl River |
| 1757 to 1842 | Foreign trade is limited to the Thirteen Factories of Canton |
| 1842 | After the First Opium War the Treaty of Nanjing opens five treaty ports, Guangzhou among them |
| 2010 | The Canton Tower begins operating |
Old Canton
Colonial villas, a banyan temple and a clan hall
Shamian Island
A former 19th-century European settlement in Liwan district, with colonial-era buildings and a riverside setting.
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
A major Buddhist site in the center, known for its Flower Pagoda.
Sacred Heart Cathedral
A landmark Catholic cathedral in the old center.
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
A reference of classic Cantonese architecture.
Modern Canton
Canton Tower and the Pearl River at night
About 600 meters of twisting steel
The Canton Tower in Haizhu district is a multi-purpose observation tower, operating since 2010, and the emblem of the new skyline. It looks best after dark, when it lights up. A one- to two-hour night cruise on the Pearl River is the classic way to see it, and the pubs of Yuexiu and Tianhe keep the evening going.
Parks and hills
Yuexiu Park and Baiyun Mountain
Yuexiu Park
Known for the Five Rams sculpture, the Zhenhai Tower and a memorial to Sun Yat-sen.
Baiyun Mountain
Just north of the center, with forests, streams, long hiking paths and a cable car to the top. It is especially popular at weekends.
Yum cha
A pot of tea and a hundred kinds of dim sum
Cantonese people describe the morning ritual as yum cha, a pot of tea with two pieces, and restaurants serve more than a hundred varieties of dim sum. Locals linger for hours. Classic dishes include har gow shrimp dumplings and siu mai.
Cantonese cooking
Cantonese cuisine is often called the most internationally recognized regional Chinese cooking. It is not especially spicy and relies on soups, congee, pork, chicken, duck and seafood.
Best time to visit
When to go
Spring
April to May is one of the two most comfortable windows.
Summer
Humid, with highs approaching 40 C and typhoon season from June to September.
Autumn
October to November is the other comfortable window.
Winter
Outside the typhoon months, though not among the two windows travel guides recommend.
Around Guangzhou
Foshan and Hong Kong
Foshan
Central Foshan is 45 to 60 minutes from central Guangzhou on the Guangfo metro line.
Hong Kong
About 120 km away, reached in less than an hour on a fast train from Guangzhou South. Shenzhen and Macau are neighbors in the same Greater Bay Area.
Getting to Guangzhou
Baiyun Airport and the metro
Guangzhou Baiyun
About 28 km north of the city and easy to reach by taxi or metro. Line 3 serves the airport, and the trains can be very crowded at rush hour.
The metro is extensive and signs are in English too. Hotel prices rise during the Canton Fair, so check the dates before booking.
In pictures
Guangzhou in pictures
You might also like
Similar destinations
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Guangzhou (Canton)
How do I get from Guangzhou airport to the center?
Baiyun Airport (CAN) is about 28 km north of the city. It is easy to reach by taxi or metro, and Line 3 serves the airport.
What should I see first in Guangzhou?
Shamian Island, the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Yuexiu Park, and the Canton Tower with a night cruise on the Pearl River.
Where can I try dim sum in Guangzhou?
Everywhere: the morning yum cha tradition means tea houses and restaurants serve over a hundred kinds of dim sum.
What is the best time to visit Guangzhou?
October to November and April to May. Summers are humid and can approach 40 C, with typhoons from June to September.
Can I visit Hong Kong from Guangzhou?
Yes, fast trains from Guangzhou South take less than an hour. Foshan is 45 to 60 minutes away on the Guangfo metro line.
How much does a flight to Guangzhou usually cost?
It mostly depends on your departure city, the season and how far ahead you book. The "deals" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Guangzhou drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Guangzhou as the destination and your maximum budget. You'll be notified automatically the moment a matching price is detected.
Ready to head to Guangzhou (Canton)?
Set your budget and let SniperAir monitor fares for you.
Create my alert