From WeChat Pay to navigating the metro, finding the best dim sum to renewing your visa—
everything you need to thrive in the Canton metropolis.
Just landed? Follow this 6-step checklist to get up and running fast.
China Mobile / China Unicom / China Telecom. Bring your passport. Monthly plans from ¥39. Available at Baiyun Airport, any official store, or online via 京东/天猫.
China's super-app. Chat, pay, order food, book taxis—everything in one app. Download from App Store / Google Play, register with your phone number. Link your bank card for payments.
Second essential app. Alipay now supports foreign bank cards (Visa, Mastercard). Scan to pay everywhere—from street vendors to luxury malls. Also handles utility bills, DIDI, and more.
Yang Cheng Tong card for Guangzhou Metro & buses. Get a physical card at any metro station (¥20 deposit), or use the digital version in Alipay → Transport. Metro rides: ¥2–¥14.
Hotels automatically register you with police. If staying at a private residence, you must register at the local police station within 24 hours (住宿登记). Failure = fines or visa issues.
If you need access to Google, WhatsApp, Instagram etc., install a reliable VPN before arriving. Popular options: LetsVPN, Astrill. Note: VPNs operate in a legal gray area—use responsibly.
These apps will cover 95% of your daily needs. Install them all.
The Everything App
Messaging, mobile payments (WeChat Pay), mini-programs for food delivery, taxi booking, hospital registration, utility bills—literally everything.
Payment & Beyond
Supports foreign cards (Visa/MC). QR payments everywhere, DIDI rides, metro QR code, bike sharing, food delivery, flight booking, and more.
Ride-Hailing
China's Uber. English interface available. Taxi, express, premier. Also accessible within WeChat/Alipay mini-programs.
Food & Lifestyle
Food delivery, restaurant bookings, hotel booking, movie tickets, bike sharing. The go-to for ordering meals to your door.
Navigation
Most accurate maps for China. Better than Google Maps here. English interface available. Public transit directions, walking, driving.
Online Shopping
China's Amazon. Everything you can imagine. Set language to English in settings. Ships fast within China.
Short Videos
China's TikTok. Great for discovering local food spots, travel tips, and cultural content. Set to English or learn Chinese through immersion.
China is nearly cashless. Master these digital payment methods.
Scan QR codes to pay anywhere. Link a Chinese bank card, or use Tour Card (limited top-up with foreign card). Tip: Ask "Wēi xìn?" at any shop.
Now supports Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and more. No Chinese bank account needed! Verify identity with passport photo. Most convenient for tourists.
Recommended for long-term stays. Bank of China / ICBC are most foreigner-friendly. Bring passport, residence permit, work contract/student ID.
While digital payment dominates, cash is still legal tender. Some small vendors may not have change. ATMs at major banks accept foreign cards.
One of China's best metro systems plus endless options to move around.
16 lines, 300+ stations. English signs & announcements everywhere. Operates 6:00–23:30. Fares: ¥2–¥14. Use Yang Cheng Tong card or Alipay QR.
Extensive network covering the entire city. Most routes: ¥2 flat fare. Use Yang Cheng Tong card or Alipay Transport QR. BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) on Zhongshan Avenue.
DIDI (滴滴) is the go-to ride-hailing app. Taxis: ¥12 flag-down (first 3km), then ¥2.6/km. Green taxis = electric. Blue taxis = natural gas.
Meituan Bike (美团单车) & Hellobike (哈啰) are everywhere. Scan QR to unlock. ¥1.5/30 min. Available via Meituan, Alipay, or standalone apps.
Guangzhou South Station connects to Shenzhen (30 min), Hong Kong (50 min), Beijing (8 hrs). Book via 12306 app (English available) or Trip.com.
Metro Line 3 (North) connects Baiyun Airport (CAN) to city center in ~45 min. Airport Express bus also available. DIDI to downtown: ~¥120–180.
From Michelin dim sum to late-night delivery—Guangzhou is a food paradise.
Biggest food delivery platform. Huge selection, fast delivery (30–45 min). Mostly Chinese interface—use screenshot translation. Tip: Look for photos!
Second largest. Also accessible inside Alipay. Sometimes cheaper than Meituan. Same restaurants, slightly different promos.
Har gow, siu mai, char siu bao. Go for morning tea (早茶) at Guangzhou Restaurant or Panxi.
Crispy skin, tender meat. Try it at a local Siu Mei (烧味) shop.
Rice cooked in a clay pot with meat, vegetables, and soy sauce. A winter favorite.
Sweet, silky dessert from Shunde. Nanxin is the famous brand in Guangzhou.
Springy egg noodles with shrimp wontons in clear broth. A Guangzhou classic.
From short-term hotels to long-term apartments—navigate Guangzhou's rental market.
Book via Trip.com (携程), Meituan, or international sites (Booking.com, Agoda). Note: Not all hotels can accept foreigners—look for "涉外酒店" (foreigner-friendly).
Fully furnished apartments with hotel-like services. Popular in Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe, Yuexiu. Great for 1–6 month stays. Book via Ziroom (自如) or agents.
Apps: Ziroom (自如), Beike (贝壳), Anjuke (安居客). Standard deposit: 2 months rent + 1 month agency fee. Lease typically 1 year. Negotiate!
SIM cards, internet access, VPNs, and staying connected with the outside world.
All require passport for registration. eSIM available for some plans.
China Telecom offers the most reliable fiber internet. Speeds up to 1000 Mbps. Bundled with phone plan: ~¥99–199/month. Installation within 2–3 days.
The Great Firewall blocks Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc. A reliable VPN is essential. Install and test before arriving!
Where to go when you're sick, and how to navigate the system.
Best for English-speaking doctors:
Affordable but busy. Top picks:
Watsons (屈臣氏) and Nepstar (大参林) everywhere. For prescription meds, bring your passport and prescription. Many common meds available OTC.
24-hour pharmacies marked with green cross sign.Highly recommended. Options:
From luxury malls to wholesale markets—Guangzhou is a shopper's dream.
Taikoo Hui (太古汇) — Tianhe. High-end brands, great dining. IGC (天汇广场) — Zhujiang New Town. K11 — Art mall with premium brands.
Baima (白马) — Fashion wholesale. Zhanxi Road — Leather goods. Yide Road — Toys & stationery. Qingping Market — Chinese herbs & dried seafood.
Beijing Road (北京路) — Pedestrian street, mix of brands. Shangxiajiu (上下九) — Traditional arcade shopping. Jiangnanxi (江南西) — Hipster boutiques & cafes.
Gangding (岗顶) — Computer & electronics hub. For reliable purchases, go to official stores (JD.com offline stores, Huawei, Xiaomi flagship stores).
Keep your documents in order—this is the most important section.
Required if staying over 180 days (work, study, family). Applied at PSB Exit-Entry Administration (出入境管理局) after entering China with Z/X1 visa.
Guangzhou Exit-Entry Administration
📍 155 Jiefang South Road, Yuexiu District
📞 +86 20 8311 5725
🕐 Mon–Fri 8:30–12:00, 14:00–17:30
🌐 Book appointment via WeChat: "广州公安"
Small things that make a big difference in daily life.
Tap water is NOT drinkable. Buy bottled water (农夫山泉, 怡宝) or install a water dispenser. Most homes use 5-gallon dispensers (~¥15/delivery via app).
Subtropical: hot & humid summer (35°C+), mild winter (10°C). Spring (March–May) is rainy season—always carry an umbrella. Typhoons possible July–September.
Garbage sorting is mandatory. 4 categories: kitchen waste (green), recyclables (blue), hazardous (red), other (gray). Fines for non-compliance.
220V, 50Hz. Plugs: Type A (2 flat pins), Type C (2 round pins), Type I (3 flat pins like Australia). Bring a universal adapter.
Always carry your own toilet paper and hand soap/sanitizer. Many public toilets don't provide them. Western toilets available in malls & international venues.
Generally better than northern China but can get bad (AQI 100+). Check AQI daily via app. Consider an air purifier for your home. N95 masks for bad days.
Pleco — best Chinese-English dictionary. Baidu Translate — for text & image translation. Google Translate — download offline Chinese pack.
Join WeChat groups for Guangzhou expats. Search on Facebook: "Guangzhou Expats", "Foreigners in Guangzhou". Reddit: r/guangzhou. Events posted regularly.
Save these numbers. You hope you never need them, but you'll be glad you have them.
For crimes, safety threats, or if you need immediate police assistance. English service may not always be available.
Medical emergencies. Operators primarily speak Chinese—have someone who speaks Chinese call if possible.
Fire emergencies. Again, Chinese-speaking operators. Know your address in Chinese.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs global consular hotline. For passport loss, emergencies involving foreign nationals. 24/7, multilingual.
One-stop government hotline. For complaints, inquiries about regulations, reporting issues. Some cities offer English service.
For disputes with merchants, scams, or product quality issues. You can also file complaints via WeChat mini-program.
+86 20 3814 5000 · 43 Huajiu Rd, Zhujiang New Town
+86 20 8314 3000 · 22/F, Guangzhou International Finance Centre
+86 20 3814 0111 · 12/F, Development Centre, 3 Linjiang Ave
+86 20 8611 6100 · 26/F, TaiKoo Hui Tower 1
+86 20 8313 0000 · 14/F, 875 Tianhe Rd
+86 20 2829 2000 · 8/F, 1 Jinbian Rd
+86 20 8334 3090 · 368 Huanshi East Rd
+86 20 2919 2880 · 18 Youlin 3rd Rd, Haizhu