Transportation

Airport - Flights from Hong Kong land in Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport almost as soon as they've taken off. It's a 20 minute hop, hardly worth the effort of getting out to the airport – which takes twice as long as the flight itself and then through the hassle of customs. The high-speed extension of Guangzhou's subway line to the airport isn't completed yet - until then the only access is via the freeway. When you arrive at the airport, go directly to a hotel, it's cheaper than making your arrangements at the airport.

Bus - Buses to Hong Kong are anywhere from 3 to 5 hours depending on traffic and customs. Luxury coaches leave for Shenzhen from the Guanghua Lu bus station every few minutes for RMB 60. At the terminus, simply cross the border on foot and jump on the KCR train headed to Hung Hom or the metro interchange at Mongkok for another HK$ 32. Obviously this works equally well in reverse. If you're really stuck, in a mad rush or have some friends to share the cost with, there are always Guangzhou taxis in Shenzhen looking for a fare back to the city. You can get them down to around RMB 400 one way.

Subway – Now that the second subway line has opened up, getting around the city is much easier. Line2 goes from north to south, while the line 1 goes from mostly east to west. Recorded announcements and signs are in English and Chinese.

Taxi - Taxis are RMB 7 at flag-fall. A typical ride across town will rarely be more than RMB 30. Air-conditioned taxis are slightly more expensive than those that aren't.

Train - As demand grows, so does the frequency of express trains from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. Prices range from HK$ 190 to HK$ 260 for the Special First Class. The commuter train is the newest and cleanest. It's operated by the KCR (Kowloon-Canton Railway, www.kcrc.com), rather than by China Railways. It has airplane-style seats and only takes 2 hours. On the return journey from Guangzhou, check luggage on the second floor and then check in on the fourth floor with your passport and ticket. All formalities including customs are taken care of there