In 2024, Guangzhou's transportation landscape is dominated by cars, with a significant portion of the population also relying on buses and walking. The city's traffic inefficiency and CO2 emissions indexes highlight areas for potential improvement in public transportation and environmental impact.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 2.37 minutes waiting, 12.67 minutes driving, and covers a distance of 13.9 km.
  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 6.5 minutes waiting and 35.83 minutes on the bus, covering 11.75 km.
  • Car - Car users drive for 34.2 minutes and walk for 3 minutes, traveling a distance of 21.6 km.
  • Train - Train commuters wait for 3.5 minutes and spend 20 minutes on the train, covering 29.4 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes take about 14.29 minutes, with a total distance of 2.43 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
36%
Walking
25%
Bus
21%
Train
7%
Bicycle
7%
Home
4%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic congestion tends to increase during the summer months due to higher tourist activity. Winter sees a slight decrease in traffic as residents prefer indoor activities.

Commuter Pain Points

Long waiting times for buses and trains are common complaints among commuters. Traffic congestion during peak hours leads to extended travel times for car users.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 8 PM are the best times to avoid traffic congestion. Midday travel between 11 AM and 2 PM is also relatively smooth.

Event Impacts

Major public events like the Canton Fair significantly increase traffic congestion, especially around event venues. Sporting events and concerts also contribute to localized traffic spikes.

Sustainability Efforts

Guangzhou is investing in electric buses and expanding its metro network to reduce emissions. The city promotes cycling and walking through dedicated lanes and pedestrian-friendly areas.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of private cars on the road, easing congestion. However, the increase in ride-sharing vehicles can sometimes contribute to traffic in busy areas.

Traffic Rankings

Guangzhou ranks 3rd on the Traffic rankings in China. The Traffic Index for China combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in China, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.

Worst to BestUpdated: Dec, 2024

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 28 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
8.6 miles
Walking
6.7 mins
Waiting
2.4 mins
Driving Car
12.7 mins
Bus / Trolley
8.5 mins
Bicycle
2.0 mins
Motorcycle
0.2 mins
Train
4.1 mins
Other
0.7 mins
Total:
37.3 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
7.3 miles
Walking
5.8 mins
Waiting
6.5 mins
Bus / Trolley
35.8 mins
Train
7.5 mins
Other
0.8 mins
Total:
56.5 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
13.4 miles
Walking
3.0 mins
Driving Car
34.2 mins
Total:
37.2 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
18.3 miles
Walking
5.0 mins
Waiting
3.5 mins
Train
20.0 mins
Other
7.5 mins
Total:
36.0 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
1.5 miles
Walking
14.3 mins
Waiting
2.6 mins
Bus / Trolley
2.1 mins
Train
3.6 mins
Total:
23.3 mins
Guangzhou Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Guangzhou's reliance on cars contributes significantly to its high CO2 emissions.

Investing in public transportation infrastructure could reduce traffic inefficiencies and environmental impact.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Guangzhou's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 3836, indicating significant environmental impact.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing the efficiency and appeal of public transportation.

Time

The average commute time index is 37.26, reflecting moderate delays during peak hours.

Improving traffic flow and public transport efficiency could help reduce commute times.

Inefficiency

The traffic inefficiency index is 129.64, suggesting room for improvement in traffic management.

Enhancing road infrastructure and optimizing traffic signals could alleviate congestion.