Planespotting Guides for China's Airfields and Airports
Spotting locations, viewing areas, the best spotting hotel rooms and advice on access for plane spotters travelling to airports and airfields in China. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for spotting information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs, Google Earth and Google Maps to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more
Domestic China flights on Western websites like Expedia tend to be very expensive. Sites like eLong.net, Ctrip.com and 9588.com are Chinese domestic sites and offer much cheaper tickets. The later you book a flight, the cheaper the ticket - at about 3 weeks before the flight, the lowest fares become available
BEIJING-PEKING AIRPORT (ZBAA/PEK)
Terminal Spotting Info
The biz can be logged from terminal 2. You can then walk to T1 via the glass walkway. From the walkway there are limited views of the apron but you will log a few from here. Then set off for the perimeter viewing areas below.
Spotting Around Airport Perimeter
For the barracks area, leave Terminal 1 at arrivals level, and turn right. It is only about 200yds to a T-junction, with a China Southern pier on your right, until you need to turn right again. Following the road around you pass remote parking on both sides, generally with Air China to the left and China Postal on the right. Keep walking, noting that there is a wide shared bicycle/pedestrian route under three bridges (named Huaxing Bridge 1, 2 and 3 respectively), over which pass taxiways. After the third bridge, the old barracks are on the right but appear disused, and any footpath that may once have existed is now blocked off. Continue past the old barracks with one runway parallel on the left, until the road does a sharp 90-right turn. Here there are piles of paving stones by the side of the road and is a great place to view both runways. If movements are approaching you from the terminal end, you can see and read departures off both runways and arrivals on the nearest runway. It may not be as good if they are using the other runways. As you are alongside a very busy public road, the police will probably turn up. An aviation ID of sorts will certainly help, but they understand the hobby and you shouldn't have a problem. The mound is still a good place especially for photos, whilst the walkway between T1 and T2 on departures level provides views of a lot of movements and is good for spotting after dark. Between T1 and Huaxing Bridge 1 has views of one runway. The first of the biz parking areas can be seen by leaving T2 on departures level and turning left, walk just beyond the advertising hoardings for a view down. For the second biz area, exit left out of the Capital Airport Hotel, take the left junction adjacent to the hotel, and a 5 minute walk brings you to the airport fence line overlooking part of Terminal 2's international stands and the second biz parking area. Airside at T2 has great views of one runway, all international gates and both biz parking areas. Alternatively, head left out of T1 then follow the road for approx 1 mile under the 3 bridges, and just as the road curves back to the right stop here. The CAAC hangars are further round to net you a few more.
Planespotting Hotels
The CITIC Hotel Beijing is a £2.00 taxi ride from the terminal. Ask for a room facing the runway. Room 710 has views of arrivals on 36L, which is used more often than 36R. Traffic using 36R can be seen from the stairwells on floor 7 or above, as well as a bar on floor 11, which offers views of the arrivals. The rooftop has views of arrivals on both runways and a lot of parked CCA aircraft in maintenance. Rooms 707-711 offer similar views (rooms 701-706 may be at wrong angles) and all rooms 712 and 714-723 inc and 724/726/728/730/732/734/736/738 will offer views of 36R. Presumably the same will apply for rooms above floor 7. The courtesy bus runs 06.00-23.30 every half hour and drops you at terminal 2, where you can read the biz parked here.
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GUANGZHOU AIRPORT (ZGGG/CAN)
Spotting Info
The airport authority at Guangzhou operates shuttle buses to the industrial areas north and south of the terminal. The route to the north goes past the GAMECO hangar and ramp, and returns via the cargo area. Buses operate every 20 minutes departing from Gate 9, to the right outside the international arrivals hall. Current bus numbers [not route numbers] are 99, 225 & 226. They are slightly smaller than the coaches used into town. Fare for each journey is 2 Yuan, placed in a fare box inside each bus. The bus stops outside GAMECO gate and then continues to pass the new CAAC training institute where there is another stop. An IL-14, Y-7 [Antonov] and 2 CJ-6 aircraft are on the ramp in front of the hangar. After that, the bus crosses over and comes back past the cargo sheds where there may be photo opportunities. The bus then comes back to the terminal, stopping on the west side. Stay on and the bus heads south before turning back at the southern parking area before stopping back at Gate 9.
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SHANGHAI-HONGQIAO AIRPORT (ZSSS/SHA)
General Info
One runway - 18/36. Traffic gets repetitive quite quickly, you shouldn't need more than 48 hours here.
Spotting Info
No views airside or landside.
Planespotting Hotels
Rooms at the Hong Gang Hotel have views of the main ramp and the China Eastern hangar. Even numbered rooms on floor 7 and above (702-714) are best, with views of all the remote parking (only the stands parallel to the runway are out of view - head up to floor 11, there is a window here with views of these stands and most can be read off), and whilst it is perpendicular to the runway it isn't really a problem as everything will land or vacate past you.
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Transfer to Pudong
Take the coach to Pu Dong from Airport Bus Line No. 1. It departs from the outer of the two rows of bus stops out the front of the terminal and costs RMB30 one way. Do not follow the signs to coaches.
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SHANGHAI-PUDONG AIRPORT (ZSPD/PVG)
Spotting Info
Head for the international end (east end) on the departures level of the terminal - despite having two runways (17/35 and 16/34), Pudong only has one terminal and one connecting taxiway, therefore all aircraft generally have to taxi past you at some point and with a good scope/bins you can pretty much catch all movements. There are views on to the ramp at either end of the terminal. There is always something different here, allow at least 2 days here.
Planespotting Hotels
The Ramada Hotel at the airport is like two opposing crescents connected by a walkway, which also has rooms. You need to be on floor 5 and above and ideally in the connecting section facing 16/34, the outer curve of the 16 end of the north tower facing towards the terminal, or in the inner curve of the 16 end of the south tower. Rooms have some views of the taxiways, though the emergency stairwells has better views of aircraft taxiing to departure depending on runway direction. If they change direction, you can spot from the terminal approach road with no hassle. Room 507 has views of the departing traffic which through the glass are unreadable. If you insist, you should be allowed access to the balcony (after signing a disclaimer to accept all responsibility whilst using the balcony). This enables you to read most departures depending on the sun position. If landing on 35 and departing on 34, you can pick up a few arrivals and are able to see stands 1 - 8 and a few remote parking. The Shuttle bus to and from the airport is approx every 20 mins and takes only 5 mins each way.
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Transfer to Hongqiao
The bus to Hongqiao departs from bus stop 1 outside door 6 (another report suggests door 9) on the arrivals level. Again as is usual in this part of the world board the coach and wait to be sold a ticket at seat, which is RMB30 (£2) one-way and takes an hour. It will drop you outside the Hong Gang hotel - details in the SHA section above. Coach departs from bus stop 1 which is outside door no. 5 on the arrivals level.
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SHENZHEN AIRPORT (ZGSZ/SZX)
General Info
A single runway 15/33, and a single terminal with one end domestic and the other end international. Shenzhen Airlines has its base here. Most Chinese airlines can be seen here, as well as Air Macau, Asiana, Transmile, Fedex, SilkAir. It is quite busy, always something on the move.
Spotting Info
Spot from the Sunway Hotel, regardless of runway use. The A pier also offers good views of movements, with lots of windows and views across to cargo. There are no views landside in the terminal building, but at the end of the Domestic Terminal you can view one side of what is parked on the pier. Go down to the arrivals level (ground floor) if they are using 15 as all aircraft will taxi down and past you. This area is looking through two fences, is no good for photos and you have to watch the gap all the time. Aircraft in the new Shenzhen Airlines colours, black regs on dark red are very hard to read. If they're using 33, all you will get is what parks on the domestic pier, 6 aircraft at the most, as the aircraft are too high to read off.
Planespotting Hotels
The Sunway Hotel is the only hotel at the airport. The rooms on the upper floors have good views of the taxiway, and depending on landing direction everything can be read off on the taxiway, from the hotel room, if required.
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Transfer to Shenzen from Hong Kong Island Terminal & perimeter spotting
TurboJet has several fast ferries going from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island to Shenzhen. The trip takes about an hour. You can upgrade to First Class for about £3 extra and get a free meal and tea/coffee. It is also possible to go by bus but you have to transfer several times. The ferry takes you to the Shenzhen Fu Yong ferry terminal, which is a 15 minute walk to a perfect spot for photos. A free shuttle bus takes you from the ferry terminal to the airport if needed. Make sure you buy a visa for China while in Hong Kong. At the ferry terminal a 30-day single entry visa can be obtained but the price is twice as high (HK$430) as in Hong Kong (around HK$200). Directly after exiting the ferry terminal building take a right and pass the small gate (this may no longer be possible, there have been reports of security gates erected stopping access as the area beyond is now a construction site). Follow the concrete road going to the direction of the airport. The road is split in a lower and an upper track. After a 15 minute walk you get to the threshold of runway 15. Because of the elevated road and the small wall next to it you have a great view of the runway. No problems with authorities and remember to take enough food, water and sun protection as there is no shop in the neighbourhood. If access to the sea wall road is now blocked at the Fu Yong end, it must still be possible to get around to the sea wall, by going around the southern end of the runway as there are small holdings and peoples homes which are accessed from that road. It's a straightforward but dusty walk of about an hour to get to the sea wall from the airport terminal via the southern threshold, by walking around the perimeter. The sea wall is a very long walk from the turbojet ferry landing. On first arriving you come across a security barrier which is manned by a uniformed guard but just walk past him as the locals do. The further you walk the better it gets, but you need to take plenty of drinks and food with you. On returning to the ferry terminal you can sit at the terminal outside with good views if they are landing left to right with no problems.
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