When planning your trip to the province of Guanzghou , Getting There is among the top things that you want to figure out. Located on the middle of Guangdong Province right on the Pearl River Delta, the city of Guangzhou is a booming industrial city that rivals Hong Kong in terms of economic importance for China.

The Many Names of Guangzhou

When making travel arrangements to Guangzhou, be aware of the many names of this city. Even though Guangzhou is the most commonly used name, English speaking people might also refer to this city as Canton, Kwangchow or Gwongzau. If you encounter any of these other names, you can verify that you're both referring to the same city by checking that you're talking about the capital city of Guangdong Province in China.

Getting There by Plane

This city is served by the Baiyun International Airport ( IATA airport code: CAN), which is located in the Haidu District. This is the second busiest airport in China and it houses several local and international airlines that offer direct flights to and from Guangzhou. China Southern Airlines is the local company that offers the most destinations around the world, so it's a good starting point when looking for fares.

If you're traveling from North America and you don't mind paying a bit extra for comfort, try Jal Airlines and make sure that you get a sit on the second level of the airplane. The seats on the second level have extra leg room.

Getting There by Rail

Rail travel to Guangzhou is only possible from within China. If you're departing from Wuhan or the cities along the Wuhan Guangzhou High Speed Service route, you must take part of this experience because you will travel 610 miles at an average high speed of 194 miles per hour (about 312 kilometers per hour). There are also other routes available at very affordable prices.

Getting There from Hong Kong

The most common way that locals travel to Guangzhou when departing from abroad is to arrive first in Hong Kong. Given that the busiest airport in China is the Hong Kong International Airport ( IATA airport code: HKG ), you will guarantee the lowest possible air fare by first arriving here. From Hong Kong, you will have several economical options to arrive such as bus, ferry and train. The catamaran (boat) ride is a very nice experience that provides you a different view of Guangzhou.