You may consider the Dongfang Hotel, which is one of the best hotels around GUangzhou Railway Station. Actually, you could choose a hotel around the Pearl Square, from where you could get to shopping and dining places easily. On the other hand, the hotel condition is much better than these ones at the railway station.

When you reach the station, there are many touts who are selling rooms for and on behalf of hotels within the vicinity. And they can tell you which hotel is nearest or suit your budget. The hotels employ them as they have last minute rooms that are not taken. However, if you have heavy luggage, i would not recommend you to go far - as they will usually say that the hotel is very near, and then it turns out to the quite a walk.

Better to plan ahead, and use internet booking. No surprises.