Kolkata to Guangzhou (Huadu) (CCU–CAN) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Indian passport holders need a visa to enter mainland China. Apply at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi or consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, or through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC). A single-entry tourist visa (L visa) costs INR 4,500 and takes 4 working days to process. Express service (2 to 3 days) costs INR 6,000, and rush service (1 day) costs INR 7,500. Double-entry is INR 6,750. A 6-month multiple-entry is INR 9,000. China periodically offers transit visa exemptions (24, 72, or 144 hours) at select airports for passengers with confirmed onward tickets to a third country.

Required documents include a passport valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages, completed Form V.2013 (downloadable from the CVASC website), one recent passport photo (48x33mm, white background), confirmed round-trip flight booking, hotel reservations for each night of the stay (or an invitation letter from a Chinese host with their ID copy), and proof of sufficient funds. Business visas (M visa) need an invitation from a Chinese company. The application must be submitted in person or through an authorized agent.

Direct flights from Delhi to Beijing and Shanghai run 5 to 6 hours. Air India, Air China, and IndiGo serve these routes. Mumbai to Shanghai is about 6 hours 30 minutes. China uses the Chinese yuan (CNY/RMB), trading at roughly 7.3 CNY per $1. China runs on mobile payments (WeChat Pay and Alipay), and cash is increasingly difficult to use. Foreign visitors can now link international cards to Alipay for payments. No mandatory vaccinations. China blocks Google, WhatsApp, and most Western social media, so install a VPN before arrival.

Metro Line 3 North Extension connects T1 and T2 to the city centre (30–40 min, ¥8–10). Trains run until around midnight. Airport shuttle buses serve Guangzhou East, Tianhe Coach Terminal, and other zones (¥26–36, 40–70 min).Taxis from the arrivals area use a meter; Guangzhou city centre costs ¥80–130 with highway tolls added. DiDi ride-hail is widely available and typically costs less. High-speed rail connections to Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and other Pearl River Delta cities are available from Guangzhou South station (metro transfer required).

Subtropical monsoon climate. Summers are long, hot, and extremely humid (28–35°C from May–September) with heavy rain and typhoon risk. Tropical storms regularly cause cancellations in July and August. Winters are mild and dry (8–18°C) with some fog in January–February that can delay departures.

Spring (March–April) is warm but wet with persistent drizzle. Autumn (October–November) is the most comfortable period with lower humidity and clear skies. Air quality varies. Pollution combined with humidity creates haze that occasionally reduces visibility.