Research by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA Images : Toutiao Screenshots
There are at least three important plane-spotting sites in Chengdu Shuangliu District. They include Chengdu Aerotropolis International Convention Center Hotel (CAICCH), Airport Sports Park and Airport Flower Field.
Plane-spotting at CAICCH
CAICCH is the most recommended airport hotel to stay in Chengdu Shuangliu as there are runway-view rooms but there is no so-called Aviation Spotting Room on its fifth level. Guests praise the panoramic views of the Shuangliu Airport from the rooms. Lens of up to 400mm focal length and DSLR cameras are recommended to be used in the runway-view rooms for plane-spotting. The hotel is recommended for plane-spotting if the day is cloudy or hazy.
At 5.30 pm onwards, in the afternoon or on cloudy days, plane-spotting at CAICCH is desired if guests do not want to wander far.
Across Chengshuang Avenue South in front of CAICCH is Cloud Greenway (云上绿道), the rooftop gallery and elevated open-air platform of Airport Cloud (空港云展示中心) where it is possible to see planes flying overhead.
There is also the garden behind the convention centre of the hotel or the hotel lobby where it is precisely the ideal place to see low-flying planes touch down, taxi and take off from Shuangliu with small compact cameras.
Plane-spotting is best to be done in the afternoon on the first day of check-in.
Directly opposite CAICCH is the full length of Airport Sports Park. Choose where to spot the aircraft either on stationary or moving to take off for the sky with small compact cameras if the day is sunny. The place is recommended for mid-day plane-spotting.
Plane-spotting at Airport Sports Park
1. Exit CAICCH front doors
2. Cross Chengshuang Avenue South Section safely using the crosswalk or overpass.
3. Walk West directly into Airport Sports Park via the North Gate (2 to 3 minutes walk). After reaching the North Gate, turn Right and then walk South.
4. Pass the basketball courts, plazas and garden lawns / open lawns for 100 metres to 200 metres South before turning Right to walk towards the elevated viewing platform on the West end of the park to view planes taking off.
The desired time to be at the Airport Sports Park is between 12 pm and 2 pm. Use small compact cameras here for plane-spotting.
Plane-spotting at Mengzi Community
Go to the East Side Fields near Mengzi Village, which is located to the east of the runway, in the morning but this location is far remote and costs more per ride. According to the Spotter Guide, front-lit morning touchdowns with the sunrise behind visitors' backs promise excellent photography but they hardly happen these days as most touchdowns are from the direction of Airport Flower Field.
Alternatively, stick to the runway-view room of CAICCH, turn off the room lights as usual, press camera with rubber hood against the window glass to see taxiing aircraft right in front without backlighting.
Plane-spotting at Airport Flower Field
Airport Flower Field is the most famous plane-spotting site in Chengdu because not only the perimeter is larger than Airport Sports Park, it is said to be famous for spotting planes on the flight landing approach.
Google AI says visitors can only see the underbellies of the planes as they fly overhead if they hang out in the centre of the main glass lawns or directly along the central path under the approach flight line, just 69 metres high.
Walk over to the elevated viewing decks or the side slopes of the flower hills in the east to spot the airline names, logos and tail liveries of planes flying in the morning.
Plane-spotting at Airport Flower Field is best to be done in the afternoon on the seond day at the Western Gate where the sun is behind the visitor if you want to spot Xizang Airlines' logo in the desired direction.
Spend time in Airport Flower Field if visitors can afford as there is the entrance fee of 38 RMB. It opens at 9 am and closes at 7 pm.
