Cheap Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Guangzhou

Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Guangzhou zip across roughly 2,600 km and take about ​3 hours and 50 minutes​ on average. No need to adjust your watch—both cities share the same time zone (UTC+8).

You’ll depart from ​Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)​, the city’s main hub split into KLIA (full-service airlines) and KLIA2 (budget carriers like AirAsia). All flights land at ​Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)​, located 28 km from downtown. It’s modern, well-connected, and your gateway to the city—taxis, metro, and buses are easy to find.

​Full-service airlines​ like Malaysia Airlines and China Southern offer direct flights with meals and checked baggage included. For ​budget options, choose to book AirAsia’s direct one-way tickets (pro tip: book early for the best deals!).

Credit: Unsplash, Muhammad Faiz Zulkeflee

Kuala Lumpur Airports

​Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)​ has two main airports: KLIA (the fancy one) and KLIA2 (the budget one).

• KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) is where the full-service airlines like Malaysia Airlines fly out of. It’s about 45–50 km from downtown KL, so getting there takes some time. The place is big, clean, and kinda futuristic, but lines can get stupid long—get there at least 2–3 hours early if you don’t wanna stress.
• KLIA2 (Budget Terminal) Right next to KLIA, this is where AirAsia and other cheap flights operate. It’s no-frills but efficient—think food courts, duty-free shops, and a LOT of people. If you’re flying budget to Guangzhou, you’ll probably leave from here.

How to get there from KL city:

• KLIA Ekspres Train – Fastest way (28 mins, MYR 55 / ~USD 12), drops you right at the terminal.
• Bus – Cheaper but slower (MYR 15 / ~USD 3, takes about an hour). Look for Aerobus or SkyBus at KL Sentral.
• Taxi/Grab – Easiest if you’ve got luggage (MYR 80–100 / ~USD 17–22), but traffic can screw you over.

Credit: Unsplash, Tianlei Wu

Guangzhou Airport

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN)

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is the only major airport in Guangzhou, and it’s huge. Like, "I just walked 10 minutes to my gate and still didn’t get there" huge. Flights from KL land here, and you’ll probably be on China Southern, AirAsia, or Malaysia Airlines.

Getting from Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou city:

• Metro Line 3 – Best option (CNY 8 / ~USD 1, 30–40 mins). Runs until 11:30 PM, so hope your flight isn’t late.
• Airport Buses – Slower but goes to different parts of the city (CNY 20–30 / ~USD 3–4).
• Taxi/Didi – Most convenient (CNY 100–120 / ~USD 14–17), but Guangzhou traffic is brutal—avoid rush hour (7–9 AM, 5–8 PM).

Best time to fly from KL to Guangzhou

Aim for March–April​ or October–November. The weather’s ideal (20–28°C, light rain), but heads-up: If you are not for business, just ​avoid overlapping with the Canton Fair​ (massive trade event in ​April 15–May 5​ and ​Oct 15–Nov 4). Hotels and flights get crazy expensive and packed—I’ve seen rates ​triple​ during peak fair weeks.

​Pro tip:​​ If you’re not attending the Canton Fair, sneak in ​late March​ or ​early November—same great weather, half the crowds.

Add Hotel Booking & Car Rental to Your Guangzhou Trip

Trip.com hotel is my go-to for Guangzhou Hotels – snagged a slick 4-star near Shamian Island for almost 40% off last year using the hotel discounts on Trip.com.

• Tianhe– Modern area. Near malls (Taikoo Hui), Canton Tower. Mid-range to pricey hotels. Good for shopping/food.
• Yuexiu– Historic heart. Walk to Yuexiu Park, museums, old temples. Budget-friendly stays, subway nearby.

Skip Baiyun Airport hotels unless you land late. Always stay near a metro station (lines 1, 3, 5). Traffic’s terrible—stick to subway!