Tianhe is Guangzhou's central business and shopping district. It lies in the central-eastern part of the city, east of Yuexiu along Guangzhou Avenue, and faces Haizhu District across the Pearl River to the south. Inside its borders are the Zhujiang New Town CBD with the IFC and CTF Finance Centre towers, the Tianhe Sports Center, the Tianhe Road malls such as Teemall, and Guangzhou East railway station.
Metro Lines 1, 3, 5 and 11 and the Zhujiang New Town APM people mover all run through the district, which makes Tianhe a practical base for business travellers, shoppers and first-time visitors who want a modern, well-connected area. This guide covers what Tianhe is, its main sub-areas, what you will find in each, who it suits as a place to stay, and how to get around.
Tianhe at a Glance
Tianhe borders Yuexiu District to the west along Guangzhou Avenue, Huangpu District to the east and Baiyun District to the north. To the south, the Pearl River separates it from Haizhu District. According to the district government, Tianhe covers 136.62 km², is divided into 21 subdistricts, and has a year-end resident population of 2.2431 million. Its 2025 GDP was ¥701.7 billion.
The district is young by Guangzhou standards. It was split from the city's former Jiaoqu (suburban district) in 1985; before that, the land had belonged to Panyu County for more than two thousand years. Its first big project was the Tianhe Sports Center, built after Guangzhou was chosen to host the Sixth National Games, which opened there in August 1987. The building of Guangzhou East railway station in 1990 pushed growth further, and TeeMall, one of Guangzhou's best-known shopping centres, opened in 1996.
For a visitor, Tianhe breaks down into a few distinct areas: Zhujiang New Town by the river, the Tianhe Road shopping strip with the Sports Center, and the area around Guangzhou East railway station. Other metro lines serve the outer parts of the district.
Zhujiang New Town: The CBD
Zhujiang New Town is Tianhe's central business district, covering 6.44 km² between Huangpu Avenue and the Pearl River. Its central axis is where most visitors spend their time. The twin IFC and CTF Finance Centre towers rise over the axis, and the main cultural buildings are on the same axis: the Guangzhou Opera House, the Guangdong Museum and the new Guangzhou Library. The Canton Tower stands directly across the river from the axis.
Because the main sights sit close together, the area works well on foot. A walk down the central axis takes in the towers, the museum, the opera house and the library, with the Canton Tower in view across the water. Our Zhujiang New Town architecture walk sets out a route, and the Huacheng Square light show guide covers the evening scene on the axis. If you plan to cross the river to the tower itself, see the Canton Tower sky walk guide.
Getting there: Zhujiang New Town station is on Metro Lines 3 and 5. The APM people mover also runs underground through Zhujiang New Town, with stops at Huacheng Dadao and Guangzhou Opera House, and continues across the river to Canton Tower.
Tianhe Road and Teemall: Shopping
Tianhe Road is the district's main shopping street, lined with large malls. Teemall, which opened in 1996, is the best known of them and one of Guangzhou's best-known shopping centres overall. If shopping is a priority on your trip, this strip is the obvious place to start.
The closest metro stop is Tiyu Xilu, an interchange of Lines 1 and 3 under Tiyu Road West and Tianhe 1st South Road, next to Teemall. Tiyu Xilu is also useful for onward travel: from here Line 3 runs to Baiyun Airport (towards Airport North for Terminal 2) and also serves Zhujiang New Town station.
Tianhe Sports Center
The Tianhe Sports Center was the project that started the district's growth. It was built after Guangzhou was chosen to host the Sixth National Games, which opened there in August 1987, and it later hosted the football finals of the 2010 Asian Games.
Three metro stations surround it, and the one to use depends on which gate you need:
- East Gate: Tianhe Sports Center station on Line 1.
- North Gate: Linhexi station on Line 3 (also the first stop of the APM).
- West and South Gates: Tiyu Xilu station on Lines 1 and 3.
On event days, check which gate your ticket names before you set off, so you get off at the right station.
Guangzhou East Railway Station
Guangzhou East railway station, at 1 Dongzhan Lu in Tianhe, was built in 1990 and helped drive the district's development. Metro Lines 1 and 3 stop here, and it is the northern terminus of Line 1. Line 11 is also listed as an interchange at the station; confirm current service in the Guangzhou Metro app before relying on it.
Staying near the station suits travellers with an early train, and Lines 1 and 3 connect it to Tiyu Xilu for the Tianhe Road malls, with Line 3 continuing to Zhujiang New Town. For platforms, metro exits and practical details, see our Guangzhou East railway station guide.
Getting There and Getting Around
The metro is the easiest way to move around Tianhe and to reach the rest of the city. The main stations for visitors are:
- Zhujiang New Town (CBD): Zhujiang New Town station on Lines 3 and 5, plus the APM.
- Tianhe Road and Teemall: Tiyu Xilu station, the Line 1 and Line 3 interchange.
- Tianhe Sports Center: Tianhe Sports Center (Line 1), Linhexi (Line 3) or Tiyu Xilu (Lines 1 and 3), depending on the gate.
- Guangzhou East railway station: Lines 1 and 3; northern terminus of Line 1.
- Baiyun Airport: Line 3 from Tiyu Xilu towards Airport North (Terminal 2).
The APM people mover
The Zhujiang New Town APM is an underground people mover that opened in 2010. It has 9 stations, running from Linhexi via Tianhe Sports Center South, Tianhenan, Huangpu Dadao, Huacheng Dadao, Guangzhou Opera House and Haixinsha to Canton Tower. The fare is a flat ¥2 per ride. The APM is ticketed separately, so you need a new ticket to transfer to other metro lines.
Line 11 and the outer district
Line 11, a 44.2 km loop line that opened on 28 December 2024, runs through Tianhe with interchanges at Yuancun (Line 5) and Tianhe Park (Lines 13 and 21). Lines 4, 6, 13 and 21 also serve the outer parts of the district, with Tianhe Park station on Lines 11, 13 and 21 and Yuancun on Lines 5 and 11. These lines matter more if you are staying away from the centre or heading to the exhibition area across the river.
Who Should Stay in Tianhe
Business travellers. Zhujiang New Town is the city's CBD, and the IFC and CTF Finance Centre towers sit on its central axis. Staying in or near the CBD keeps you close to offices and on Lines 3 and 5.
Shoppers. The Tianhe Road malls, led by Teemall, are the main draw, with Tiyu Xilu station on Lines 1 and 3 right beside them.
First-time visitors. Tianhe is modern and well connected. From the centre of the district you can reach the airport on Line 3, Guangzhou East railway station on Lines 1 and 3, and the cultural buildings of Zhujiang New Town on foot or by APM.
Canton Fair visitors. The Canton Fair is not held in Tianhe. The Canton Fair Complex is in Pazhou, in Haizhu District across the Pearl River. Tianhe still works as a base: Line 11 runs from Yuancun or Tianhe Park stations to Pazhou station, which is also an interchange with Line 8. If you are travelling for a fair session, book accommodation early.
Travellers after old Guangzhou. If historic streets, temples and older neighbourhoods are your focus, Yuexiu or Liwan are usually the better choice. Many visitors stay in one area and visit the other by metro.
Practical Tips for Tianhe
- Choose your base by sub-area: Zhujiang New Town for the CBD and cultural buildings, Tianhe Road for shopping, and the area around Guangzhou East for early trains.
- Remember the APM needs its own ticket; if you are changing to Line 3 or Line 5, buy a separate metro ticket.
- For Sports Center events, match the gate on your ticket to the right station before you travel.
- Check current service in the Guangzhou Metro app, especially for newer lines such as Line 11.
- Carry your passport; you may need it for hotel check-in and rail tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tianhe District in Guangzhou?
Tianhe lies in central-eastern Guangzhou. It borders Yuexiu District to the west along Guangzhou Avenue, Huangpu District to the east and Baiyun District to the north, and faces Haizhu District across the Pearl River to the south.
Is Tianhe a good area to stay in Guangzhou?
Tianhe is Guangzhou's modern business and shopping district, home to the Zhujiang New Town CBD, the Tianhe Road malls and Guangzhou East railway station, and it is served by Metro Lines 1, 3, 5 and 11 plus the APM. That makes it a convenient base for business travellers, shoppers and first-time visitors; travellers looking for older, historic streets usually prefer Yuexiu or Liwan.
What is Zhujiang New Town?
Zhujiang New Town is the central business district of Tianhe, covering 6.44 km² between Huangpu Avenue and the Pearl River. Its central axis holds the IFC and CTF Finance Centre towers, the Guangzhou Opera House, Guangdong Museum and the new Guangzhou Library, with the Canton Tower across the river.
Which metro station is closest to Teemall and the Tianhe Road malls?
Tiyu Xilu station, an interchange of Metro Lines 1 and 3 under Tiyu Road West and Tianhe 1st South Road, is next to Teemall.
How do I get to Tianhe Sports Center by metro?
Use Tianhe Sports Center station on Line 1 for the East Gate, Linhexi station on Line 3 for the North Gate, or Tiyu Xilu station (Lines 1 and 3) for the West and South Gates.
What is the APM line in Tianhe?
The Zhujiang New Town APM is a 9-station underground people mover running from Linhexi through Zhujiang New Town to Canton Tower. It charges a flat ¥2 per ride, and you need a separate ticket to transfer to other metro lines.
Which metro lines serve Guangzhou East railway station?
Guangzhou East railway station, at 1 Dongzhan Lu in Tianhe, is an interchange of Metro Lines 1, 3 and 11 and the northern terminus of Line 1.
Is the Canton Fair held in Tianhe?
No. The Canton Fair Complex is in Pazhou, Haizhu District, across the Pearl River from Tianhe. From Tianhe, Metro Line 11 runs from Yuancun or Tianhe Park stations to Pazhou station.
Tianhe is Guangzhou's modern centre: the Zhujiang New Town CBD and its cultural buildings by the river, the Tianhe Road malls around Teemall, the Tianhe Sports Center and Guangzhou East railway station, all tied together by Metro Lines 1, 3 and 5, Line 11 and the APM. Pick the sub-area that fits your trip, and use the metro to reach the older districts and the Pazhou exhibition area across the river.
For the latest official information, see the Tianhe District official site and Tianhe District on Wikipedia.
