By subway
Guangzhou's Metro system opened in 1999 and has been expanding at a breakneck pace ever since. The network covers much of the city center and is growing rapidly outward. The fare ranges from ¥2 to ¥19. Most of the signs and announcements are in Chinese and English. Tickets can be bought from vending machines in the stations. ¥5 and ¥10 Bills or ¥0.5 and ¥1 coins are accepted. You can break up your big bills at the customer service counters. The ticket is a small plastic token, which you swipe over the blue reader at the gate to enter the platform, and at the exit where you insert the token into the slot like a vending machine. Most of these machines do not accept old or torn notes. If needed, tell the officer at the counter where you want to go and he or she will return your note with the requisite fare in coins and the rest in notes. It is easier to use Yang Cheng Tong (see details above). You also receive a 5%-40% discount when the card is used to ride the subway.
There are currently 8 lines in operation:
Line 1 is the most useful for tourists, running south-west to north-east from Xilang in Fangcun to Guangzhou East Railway Station in Tianhe. The line runs underneath Zhongshan Road in the city centre and is the most useful for accessing shopping areas and tourist sights.
Line 2 runs north-south from Jiahewanggang in Baiyun District to Guangzhou South Railway Station. This line is most useful for reaching Baiyun Mountain, Guangzhou Railway Station, Yuexiu Park and Haizhou Square. If you're staying in west or central Guangzhou, this line is also useful for reaching the airport by changing to Line 3 at Jiahewanggang
Line 3 is a Y-shaped north-south line serving eastern Guangzhou. The 'main line' runs from Panyu Square to the Tianhe Intercity Coach Station, whilst the 'branch line' splits off at Tiyu Xilu and heads towards Airport South, via Guangzhou East Station.
Line 4 serves Guangzhou's eastern outer suburbs and runs from Huangcun in Huangpu District down to Jinzhou in Nansha. This line is most useful for reaching the Olympic Sport Centre and the University Town.
Line 5 runs east-west from Jiaokou (Liwan District) to Wenchong (Huangpu District) and follows the inner ring road through the city. Useful for reaching Guangzhou Railway Station, the Garden Hotel and Zhujiang New Town.
Line 8 was formed out of the remnants of Line 2 following it's southward extension and runs east-west through Haizhu District from Fenghuang Xincun to Wanshengwei. Useful for reaching Sun Yat-sen University and Pazhou Exhibition Centre.
Zhujiang New Town APM is a driverless people-mover serving downtown Tianhe District and is the least-used line on the Metro (which is handy if you want to avoid the most crowded section of Line 3. The line has 9 stops running from Linhexi to Chigang Pagoda and serves many tourist sights in the area including Guangzhou Opera House, Haixinsha Island (where the opening ceremony for the 2010 Asian Games was held) and the Canton Tower. Note that this line uses separate tickets (flat fare 2 yuan, 5% discount with the Yangchengtong card). Unlike other metro lines, you should insert your token at the entrance gate - the exit gates open automatically when approached.
Guangfo Line is China's first intercity railway, connecting downtown Foshan with Xilang, where you can transfer to Line 1. Central Foshan can be reached in approximately 45-60 minutes from central Guangzhou. Transfers from GZ metro lines and Yangchengtong cards are accepted.
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