2016 Guangzhou International Women's Open – Singles

Jelena Janković was the defending champion, but lost in the final to Lesia Tsurenko 4–6, 6–3, 4–6.

Seeds
• #🇮🇹 Sara Errani (second round)

• #🇷🇸 Jelena Janković (final)

• # Ana Konjuh (semifinals)

• #🇺🇸 Christina McHale (withdrew)

• #🇺🇸 Alison Riske (quarterfinals)

• #🇲🇪 Danka Kovinić (second round)

• #🇨🇿 Kateřina Siniaková (first round)

• #🇨🇳 Zheng Saisai (first round)

Seeds
• # 🇨🇳 Liu Fangzhou (qualifying competition)

• # 🇺🇸 Asia Muhammad (first round)

• # 🇷🇺 Anastasia Pivovarova (qualified)

• # 🇨🇳 Zhang Yuxuan (first round, retired)

• # 🇨🇳 Liu Chang (qualifying competition)

• # Jil Teichmann (first round)

• # Sofia Shapatava (qualified)

• # 🇺🇦 Lyudmyla Kichenok (qualified)

• # 🇯🇵 Junri Namigata (qualified)

• # 🇮🇹 Cristiana Ferrando (qualifying competition, lucky loser)

• # Hsu Ching-wen (first round)

• # 🇺🇦 Nadiia Kichenok (first round)

Qualifiers
• # Sofia Shapatava

• # 🇺🇦 Lyudmyla Kichenok

• # 🇷🇺 Anastasia Pivovarova

• # 🇯🇵 Junri Namigata

• # 🇨🇳 Xun Fangying

• # 🇨🇳 You Xiaodi

Lucky losers
• # 🇮🇹 Cristiana Ferrando

• # 🇭🇰 Ng Kwan-yau