Objective To investigate the clinical features of recurrent Guillain-barré syndrome. Methods The data on demographic information and clinical features of 286 inpatients with Guillain-barré syndrome were collected. Patients were divided into recurrent group and non-recurrent group based on the number of episodes. The data from those patients with recurrent Guillain-barré syndrome whose information was missing was collected by telephone. Results we identified 22 (7.7%) cases with recurrent Guillain-barré syndrome including one case of Miller fisher syndrome. The total episodes were 55. Sixteen patients had 2 episodes, 3 patients had 3 episodes, 1 patients had 4 episodes and 2 patients had 5 episodes. Compared with non-recurrent group, patients with recurrent Guillain-barré syndrome had younger onset [(36.36 ±14.51)y vs. (45.72 ±16.13)y, t=-2.633, P=0.009], the shorter interval between the initial manifestations to peak [(2.18±0.73)d vs.(4.24±2.98)d, t=-8.537, P=0.000], the lower GBS disability score (68.2% vs. 31.8% , χ2=4.209, P=0.040) and less involvement in the cranial nerve (13.6% vs. 37.5% , χ2=5.040, P=0.025). Conclusion The recurrent risk may be considered in patients with Guillain-barré syndrome when younger patients, have lower GBS disability score and the shorter interval between the initial manifestations to peak.