Research by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA Images : Toutiao Screenshots
There are at least three important plane-spotting complexes in Chengdu Shuangliu District. They include Chengdu Aerotropolis International Convention Center Hotel (CAICCH), Airport Sports Park and Airport Flower Field.
Plane-spotting, lodging and accommodation experience 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. I praise the panoramic views of the Shuangliu Airport in front of my runway-view room. 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.
Plane-spotting is best to be done in the afternoon on the first day of check-in.
Black is the common colour of the hotel. Be careful when walking to the right building of the hotel. There are two buildings of CAICCH, Building 5 (right) and Building 6 (left), and there are nine levels in each building. The key card can access to the specific level in either building by tapping on the lift but not the room if I go the wrong building. The font for "5" and "6" looks similar.
The bed is very comfortable and to open, remote control the curtains and switch on the air-conditioner, I need to press the buttons on the wall next to the bed or command the robot to open and close the curtains or switch off or on the lights for me.
However, the room television is not working.
CAICCH charges room key deposit of 500 RMB which I use it to deduct payment for dinner (114 RMB) in the hotel restaurant. On the day of check-out, by mistake, I only returned one key card but the hotel staff did not remind me about the other key card. Only after landing in Singapore, I realized the other key card was in my jacket pocket. I contacted Trip.com and the hotel for assistance. I am thankful to them for messaging me that there is no need to return the key card to the hotel.
CAICCH is the best airport hotel of China. I will stay in CAICCH again if an opportunity arises.
Plane-spotting at Airport Sports Park
Directly opposite CAICCH or south of the hotel across the lane is the full length of Airport Sports Park. There are four plane-spotting sites in the park alone. One site is near the milestones of Chinese aircraft next to the stand marked by the Chengdu city emblem, another is on the grass lawn in the centre facing the sky ahead, the other is the circular plaza a minute walk from the centre and ahead within seconds walk from the plaza is the observation deck right next to the pond of the park.
Choose where to spot the aircraft either on stationary, moving or taking off for the sky with small compact cameras if the day is sunny.
On the observation deck, I can see planes queuing up to take off, taking off, landing, the SIchuan Airlines building and fleet parking near the building.
Airport Sports Park in front of CAICCH is recommended for all-day plane-spotting.
1. Exit CAICCH front doors
2. Cross the lane in front of Chengshuang Avenue South Section.
There is no need to walk west directly into Airport Sports Park via the North Gate which will have wasted me 2 to 3 minutes. I reach any of the site mentioned above within one minute.
The desired time to be at the Airport Sports Park is between 12 pm and 6 pm or when the sun emerges from the clouds. 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.
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