Qingyuan is served by the Guangzhou-Qingyuan intercity rail line, with frequent departures from Guangzhou North station taking around 40 minutes. Regular buses also run from Guangzhou's major bus terminals and from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, taking about 90 minutes. The new high-speed rail connections have made Qingyuan one of the easiest day trips from Guangzhou, and most visitors arrive this way.
By road, the city is about 80 kilometres north of central Guangzhou on the G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway. Driving takes around an hour depending on traffic. Buses to the gorge scenic areas (Gulongxia, Huangtengxia) depart from Qingyuan's main bus station; there is no direct rail connection to the parks.