2012 Guangzhou International Women's Open – Singles

Chanelle Scheepers was the defending champion, but lost to Urszula Radwańska in the quarterfinals.

Hsieh Su-wei won the title, defeating Laura Robson in the final 6–3, 5–7, 6–4. Robson became the first British player to reach the WTA Tour level final since Jo Durie in the 1990 Virginia Slims of Newport.

Seeds
• # 🇫🇷 Marion Bartoli (first round, retired because of illness)

• # 🇨🇳 Zheng Jie (second round)

• # 🇷🇴 Sorana Cîrstea (semifinals)

• # 🇵🇱 Urszula Radwańska (semifinals)

• # Chanelle Scheepers (quarterfinals)

• # 🇷🇴 Monica Niculescu (first round)

• # 🇨🇳 Peng Shuai (quarterfinals)

• # 🇫🇷 Alizé Cornet (quarterfinals)

Seeds
• # 🇦🇺 Casey Dellacqua (second round)

• # 🇪🇸 Lara Arruabarrena Vecino (second round)

• # 🇸🇰 Jana Čepelová (first round)

• # Chang Kai-chen (qualifying competition, lucky loser)

• # 🇷🇺 Valeria Savinykh (qualifying competition)

• # 🇯🇵 Erika Sema (second round)

• # 🇮🇹 Alberta Brianti (first round, retired)

• # 🇹🇭 Tamarine Tanasugarn (second round, retired)

Qualifiers
• # 🇰🇿 Zarina Diyas

• # 🇨🇳 Hu Yueyue

• # 🇹🇭 Nudnida Luangnam

• # 🇹🇭 Luksika Kumkhum

Lucky losers

 * 1)  Chang Kai-chen