So you're new in town and want to get from the airport to the city center – or make it to the airport on time from downtown Guangzhou. Instead of recreating your own frazzled version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, why not survey your options ahead of time and pick the fastest, cheapest or most reliable route? See below for a handy guide.

By Metro 

You can take Guangzhou Metro Line 3 to Airport South Metro Station (机场南). 

Main transfers to/from Line 3: Jiahe Wanggang 嘉禾望岗 (to Line 2, which goes to Guangzhou South Railway Station 广州南站); Yantang 燕塘 (to Line 6); Guangzhou East Railway Station 广州东站 (to Line 1); Linhe Xi or 'Linhe West' 林和西 (to APM Line); Zhujiang New Town 珠江新城 (to Line 5); Kecun 客村 (to Line 8).
Operating hours: Airport South Metro Station (6.10am-11.15pm), Tiyu Xi Lu Metro Station (6.20am-11pm)
Duration: 60-70 minutes
Price: RMB7
Note: You can take Line 3 directly to Airport South from Tiyu Xi Lu 体育西路, which is the first stop on Line 3's 'northern extension.'  A seperate train runs from Tiyu Xi Lu to Panyu Square 番禺广场 on the southern section of Line 3.

By Taxi

Hailing a taxi is generally a quick and convenient way to get to and from the airport. To check if you’re taking a real taxi, see our related guides here and here.

Location (at airport): Gates A8, B3 and B8
Duration: 45-70 minutes, depending on traffic
Price: RMB100-130, including tolls (Guangzhou taxis start at RMB10 and charge RMB2.6 per kilometer before 35 kilometers and RMB3.9 per kilometer thereafter) 

By Private Car

If you are able to use the Didi or Uber apps, a private car is the most comfortable and convenient mode of transportation to and from the airport, though it may be expensive during rush hour or in bad weather.

Location: Private cars can only wait in parking lot P4 at the airport.
Duration: 45-70 minutes depending on traffic 
Price: RMB90-110

By Shuttle Bus

There are a number of different shuttle buses that depart from hotels or railway stations in Guangzhou and reach the airport in 45-90 minutes. See below for the full list (and scroll to the very end of this article to see how to take a shuttle from the airport into the city center).

Airport Express Line 1: To/from Aviation Ticket Office (at Guangzhou Railway Station 广州火车站) 
Operating hours: Airport (5.30am-arrival of the last flight), Aviation Ticket Office (4.30am-11pm). Buses leave every 20 minutes.
Duration: 45 minutes 
Main stops: Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Sanyuanli); LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou (added stop for buses leaving the airport after 1am) 
Price: RMB15-18 

Airport Express Line 2A: To/from Crowne Plaza Guangzhou City Center  
Operating hours: Airport (7am-last flight), Crowne Plaza (5.30am-9.10pm). Buses leave every 30-45 minutes.
Duration: 50 minutes 
Main stops: LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou; Guangzhou Zoo (South Gate); Tee Mall; Jinan University (North Gate)
Price: RMB19-24 

Airport Express Line 2B: To/from Huashi (GDH) Hotel (South China Normal University) 
Operating hours: Airport (7am-last flight), Huashi (GDH) Hotel (5.20am-9pm). Buses leave every 20-30 minutes.
Duration: 50 minutes 
Main stops: LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou; Crowne Plaza Guangzhou City Center; Tee Mall
Price: RMB24 

Airport Express Line 3: To/from Fangcun Coach Station  
Operating hours: Airport (7am-1am), Fangcun Coach Staton (5.30am-9pm). Buses leave every 30-45 minutes.
Duration: 70 minutes
Main stops: Rosedale Hotel (Haizhu District) 
Price: RMB20-23 

Airport Express Line 4: To/from Pearl Garden Hotel (Huangpu District) 
Operating hours: Airport (7.45am-1am), Pearl Garden Hotel (5.30am-7pm). Buses leave every 45 minutes.
Duration: 90 minutes
Main stops: Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (Baiyun Dadao) 
Price: RMB15-29 

Airport Express Line 5: To/from Hilbin Hotel (Yuexiu District)  
Operating hours: Airport (6.30am-last flight), Hilbin Hotel (5am-9pm). Buses leave every 20-30 minutes.
Duration: 60 minutes 
Main stops: Haizhu Square (Qiyi Lu)
Price: RMB14-21 

Airport Express Line 6: To/from Haitao Hotel (Tianhe District) 
Operating hours: Airport (7am-last flight), Haitao Hotel (5am-9pm). Buses leave every 60 minutes before 11pm and every 30 minutes after 11pm.
Duration: 60 minutes 
Main stops: Grandview Mall (West Gate); Citic Plaza (North Gate)
Price: RMB21 

Airport Express Line 7A: To/from Panyu Hotel (Panyu District) 
Operating hours: Airport (6.50am-1.20am), Panyu Hotel (4.45am-9pm). Buses leave every 30 minutes.
Duration: 80 minutes 
Main stops: Yoncheng Hotel; Lijiang Mingzhu Hotel (added stop for buses leaving the airport after 10pm)
Price: RMB27/32 

Airport Express Line 7B: To/from Hejun Square (Panyu District) 
Operating hours: Airport (7.25am-9.40pm), Hejun Square (5.30am-7.45pm). Buses leave every 45 minutes.
Duration: 80 minutes 
Main stops: Nanguo Aoyuan Golf Hotel; Lijiang Mingzhu Hotel 
Price: RMB28/30 

Airport Express Line 8A: To/from Holiday Inn Guangzhou Science City (Huangpu District) 
Operating hours: Airport (7am-9pm), Holiday Inn Guangzhou Science City (5.30am-7.30pm). Buses leave every 60 minutes.
Duration: 80 minutes 
Main stops: Crowne Plaza Guangzhou Science City; Hotel Nikko Guangzhou; Landmark International Hotel (Haizhu Square)
Price: RMB23-28

Airport Express Line 8B: To/from Sun City Hotel 
Operating hours: Airport (7.20am-9.30pm), Sun City Hotel (5.30am-8pm). Buses leave every 45 minutes.
Duration: 80 minutes 
Main stops: Guangzhou Phoenix City Hotel (Zengcheng District) 
Price: RMB32/36 

Airport Express Line 8C: To/from Weldon Hotel (Huangpu District) 
Operating hours: Airport (7.20am-7pm), Weldon Hotel (6am-5.20pm). Buses leave every 60-80 minutes.
Duration: 70 minutes 
Main stops: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Guangzhou Science City
Price: RMB23/25

Airport Express Line 9: To/from Guangzhou North Railway Station Coach Terminal 
Operating hours: Airport (6.45-12.30am), Guangzhou North Railway Station Coach Terminal (5.30am-9.30pm). Buses leave every 30-45 minutes.
Duration: 60 minutes 
Main stops: Huadu Square; Crowne Plaza Guangzhou Huadu 
Price: RMB6-10 

Airport Express Line 10: To/from Guangzhou Textile Exchange Park (near Sun Yat-sen University) 
Operating hours: Airport (6.40am-11.15pm), Guangzhou Textile Exchange Park (5am-9.30pm). Buses leave every 30 minutes.
Duration: 70 minutes 
Main stops: New Pearl River Hotel 
Price: RMB24/25

Where to buy shuttle bus tickets at the airport: Gates A04, A11, B03, B05 and B12. You can also consult any of the hotels or coach stations mentioned above to learn how to buy tickets. 
Where to board buses at the airport: Gates A1-6, B11-13 
24-hour hotline: 8612 2102, 8612 2605

See listing for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

[Images via Travel China Guide, Guangzhou Airport Hotel, joutrip.com and Tech in Asia]