See main article: article and 2016 Guangzhou International Women's Open.
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza were the defending champions, but Mirza chose to compete in Tokyo instead. Hingis played alongside Jelena Janković, but lost in the semifinals to Olga Govortsova and Vera Lapko.
Asia Muhammad and Peng Shuai won the title, defeating Govortsova and Lapko in the final, 6–2, 7–6(7–3).