Previous researches on the translation of public signs have been of“corrective”types, and have seldom touched upon approaches to the translation. Drawing on previous researches, the present paper proposes a practical approach to translation, i.e., borrowing, imitative, and creative translations in dealing with the English translation of public signs at Guangzhou Metro, by referring to public signs in the rail transit systems of main English-speaking countries (eg. Australia, the UK, the US). It aims to provide a practical, effective approach to the translation of public signs in the Guangzhou rail transit system and to fundamentally improve the quality of translation.