5-7 hour layover in Guangzhou; Should I leave the airport and explore?
I have a 5-7 hour layover at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and wanted to see if anyone recommends leaving the airport to explore. From what I've gathered, you can leave the airport in China for 72-hours on a temporary visa as long as you have an outgoing ticket, BUT it looks like traveling to the city is an hour each way. Not sure if it's too tight to pull off. Thoughts?
Best Answer
If you've got seven hours, I'd go for it. The city is indeed a bit of a hike away (~50 min), but since the connection is by subway, the trains are very frequent (every 5 min) and very reliable. To minimize hassle on return, make sure you have a boarding pass for your connecting flight before leaving the airport and time yourself to get back two hours before your flights, as immigration and security can be slow. This still leaves you with a good 2-3 hours of time to explore, and this site (no affiliation) has suggestions for various points of interest easily accessed from the airport, including travel times.
But if you've got only five hours, it's a bit more touch and go: it's technically possible, but you're unlikely to have more than an hour to actually see and do stuff, and staying at the airport would be the easy/safe option.
Pictures about "5-7 hour layover in Guangzhou; Should I leave the airport and explore?"
Can you leave the airport during a 5 hour layover?
Yes, you can leave the airport during domestic layovers. For instance, if you're a US citizen and have a layover within the country, it is legal and safe to leave the airport. Be aware that you'll probably be getting two boarding passes if the domestic layover is more than an hour.Can you explore during a layover?
Whether it's a new museum you want to explore or you are trying to visit as many countries as possible, layovers provide you the chance to explore new places at no additional cost. Some people book long layovers on purpose, so they have time to leave the airport and explore new locations.Can you leave the airport during a layover in another country?
So, if you have a visa (or your connecting country doesn't require one), then, yes, you can leave the airport during a layover on an international flight. If you need a visa but you don't have one, then you can't leave the airport during an international layover.How long of a layover is enough to leave airport?
Because layovers are your choice, you can leave whenever you like, but seasoned travelers, including McGee, seldom leave airports for less than six hours.How to get FREE transit hotel with China Southern Airlines | Guangzhou Layover Guide
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Gustavo Fring, Gustavo Fring, Gustavo Fring, Gustavo Fring