how does one get from Guangzhou airport to white swan hotel is it direct via metro?

It is not direct via metro.
If you want to try the subway, you can first take the subway line 3 from the airport to Jiahewanggang Station. Then change to line 2 to Haizhu Square Station and change to line 6 to Huangsha Station. Get out of the station from Exit F. The cross the footbright to reach the Shamian Island. After that follow the direction boards to find your hotel.

In my opinion, the best method is to take the airport shuttle bus line 5 to Haizhu Square and then change to a taxi to your hotel. The shuttle bus fare is around 21RMB per person. The taxi fare is around 15 to 20RMB.

sorry different finish last question fully I arrive in GZ around 10 pm so what time to shuttle buses stop running and which one would I need to get on . out should have be at in my last question :)
Thanks Mychelle

Please do not worry. The shuttle bus line 5 does not stop until the last flight, so whatever you reach, you can that line to Haizhu Square and change a taxi to your hotel.

in my option, take line3 to Tiyuxilu station transfer to line 1 , get off from the HuangSha station, and then take a little walk no more than 10 mins