Guangzhou East or South HSR station to HK

Question

Are both stations the same? Staying at Yuexiu District, which station is easier to take HSR to HK?

Answer

Guangzhou East Station and Guangzhou South Station are two completely different stations, both serving high-speed rail (HSR), but they have different locations and train connections.

Here are the main differences relevant to traveling to Hong Kong:

Guangzhou South Station (广州南站): This is the main HSR hub for trains to Hong Kong West Kowloon. Almost all high-speed trains to Hong Kong depart from Guangzhou South. It is larger, modern, and specifically designed for long-distance HSR connections, including the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
Guangzhou East Station (广州东站): This station mainly serves regional high-speed trains, conventional trains, and intercity services within Guangdong Province. Very few or no direct high-speed trains to Hong Kong depart from here.

Considering your location in Yuexiu District:

Guangzhou East is closer to central Yuexiu District and can be reached by Metro Line 1 or 3 in about 20–25 minutes, depending on your starting point.
Guangzhou South is farther away (about 45–60 minutes by Metro Line 2 and transfer to Line 7 or by taxi), but it is the station you must use to catch HSR to Hong Kong.

Recommendations:

Even though Guangzhou South is farther, you should plan to go there if you want to take HSR to Hong Kong West Kowloon.
Allow at least 60–90 minutes from Yuexiu District to Guangzhou South to accommodate metro or taxi travel, security checks, and boarding procedures.
Do not confuse tickets for Guangzhou East with Guangzhou South when booking online, as trains to Hong Kong will only list Guangzhou South as the departure station.

In summary, for your HSR trip to Hong Kong, Guangzhou South Station is the correct and only practical option, even though Guangzhou East is closer to your hotel in Yuexiu District.

Guangzhou East or South HSR station to HK

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