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Post by L1011 on Nov 19, 2009 7:18:59 GMT 1
Hi All.
I have just returned from a weeks spotting at PEK 3 days,SHA 1 day and PVG 3 days.If anyone wants any INFO just ask.
Alan Jones.
Liverpool,U.K.
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Post by Nick Bartley on Nov 19, 2009 9:14:31 GMT 1
Hello Alan
If you have any info on hotels with views of the airports would be great also any room numbers ! - hoping to get out to China next year sometime.
Did you do any museums or preserved stuff ?
cheers
Nick
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Post by L1011 on Nov 19, 2009 16:53:04 GMT 1
Hi Nick/All.
Beijing.
I stayed at the Sino Swiss Hotel.This is a nice hotel and has soft beds something of a novelty in China.The hotel is very clean and has bars and restaurants of a good standard.
The spotting from this hotel is not that good.The Aircraft landing on 36L can be read off from the roof and any high number room that faces West.but you would need an S.B.S. for Aircraft landing on 36R and 1R/L.
The best place is the Mound.Leave Terminal 3 and turn right,at the end of the Terminal there is a VIP Car Park turn right and walk along the Cobbled path.This path will take you to the Mound it wanders around a lake and you can see the Mound but do not try and walk across the grass to it as part of it is very marshy,I dont know if this was just due to the weather or if it is like this all the time.
The Mound.
The views are great as long as the Aircraft are landing on 36L/R and 1R/L and with a pair of 12x50 bins nothing is missed landing on all 3 Rwys.The Mound has benches and tables.The Mound is underneath 36R and is great for photos.36R is mostly used for takeoffs Aircraft taxi from both Terminals and turn in front of you before lining up for take off.The only drawback is if they are landing in the other direction which they only did for about 2 hours on one day then they are almost too high in the sky when passing the Mound.
Terminal 3 has a food court facing 36R and we spotted from here with no problems whatsoever from any security staff.What you need to do is have about 30 mins in the food court and then walk to the other side of the Terminal and have 30 mins facing 1R/L large windows but no seats.The only Aircraft you will miss is what lands on 36L.
Terminals 1/2.
These are used by China Southern,China Eastern,Hainan Airlines,Xiamen Airlines,and Grand China Airlines almost all other Airlines use Terminal 3.
There is a free shuttle bus from Terminal 3 to 1&2 and it is worth going over for a look.As the bus arrives at 1/2 look to you right there is a Ramp for Exec Aircraft and a Taxiway to the back of T1/2. Get off the bus at the first stop and walk back and read off whats on the Ramp. Then go inside Terminal 2 and go to the depature level walk right to the far end following signs for T1 and you come to a walkway with windows on your right side which overlook some gates and a lot of the traffic using 18R/36L will pass you it is worth an hour if you are not using the mound.
Bejing is a great Airport I had 6 full days there 3 years ago but I still made 230 frames this time and I do not use S.B.S.as I have to read off the Aircraft myself and be able to see at least 50% of the Aircraft.
I have not got time to put on reports for SHA and PVG now but will do one in the next few days.
Alan Jones.
Liverpool,U.K.
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Post by Nick Bartley on Nov 20, 2009 8:28:34 GMT 1
thanks Alan
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Post by L1011 on Nov 20, 2009 17:01:04 GMT 1
Hi All.
Shanghai Hongqiao SHA.
We flew from Beijing to SHA arriving at about 1230 we went straight to the hotel and managed to get both of our rooms and spotted from the room for the rest of the day.
Hotel is the Hong Gang Hotel we had rooms 808 & 810 any even number room should give the same view that we had but try and get the two we had as the view is fantastic.The main ramp is in front of you all stands can be seen from the room with the most basic bins or pole.
The Runway is to your left and all Aircraft will roll out in front of you or taxi down past you to take off.Be warned they have started building a new Terminal and this could change things so I would try and visit ASAP.
The Hotel entrance is in the Terminal,there are plenty of food outlets and a McDonalds.
The movements here are lots of Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern,also Xiamen Airlines,Shandong Airlines,China Southern,Air China,Shenzhen Airlines,Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines also we got a Korean Airlines B737/8.
We left for PVG at about 1300hrs and I made 53 Frames which is very good for me also the Shanghai Airlines I made here 16,I did not see any of at PVG.It was my first visit to this Airport but you would not need more than one overnight stay as I made 39 on the Friday Afternoon but only 14 on the Sat morning.
The bus to Shanghai Pudong is the number 1 it runs about every 30 mins from just a bit to the left of McDonalds it cost 300 rem about 3 pounds one way,the trip takes about 50 min.
I will post a report on PVG over the weeekend.
Alan Jones.
Liverpool,U.K.
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Post by L1011 on Nov 21, 2009 8:47:09 GMT 1
Hi All.
Shanghai Pudong PVG.
We arrived from SHA about 1400 and went straight to our hotel which was the Ease Hotel we had asked for rooms 8801 and 8802 and these were ready for us we had to get a rollaway bed for 8801 as the rooms only have one large round double bed and there were 3 of us.
The hotel is in the middle between the two terminals,there are two hotels joined together The Ease Hotel and the Motel 168.Motel 168 is a lot cheaper than the Ease Hotel but as far as I know it has very limited views and by its position I dont think you would see much off the Movements.
The hotel is in the middle of a letter H of taxiways and our rooms looked over the cross taxiway,most but not all Aircaft land and will use the cross taxiway to get to there stands or they will back track and go to there stands and you have to wait until they depart.They will then use the cross taxiway to get to the holding point for take off.The cargo movements of which there are lots mostly land on the right runway and taxi over to the cargo terminals which are on the far side of the right runway,on departure they mostly use the right hand runway and not the cross taxiway so it makes for some very difficult reading off,you need a very good pole or bins to read them.
The cross taxiway needs at least 12x50 bins as at the middle part of it the Aircraft are behind a flyover so you have to get them at each end.If you are a dot/SBS Spotter you will be fine.After dark you can read what comes on the stands between you and the cross taxiway,as the lighing is good.
The Movements are great.I made 128 frames in the 3 days.The main airline is China Eastern.The JA Aircraft have a good mix ANA.A320s B767,B777.JAL B737/8 B767,B777/ Transasia A321s.
KAL A330,B737/8/9 B777. Asiana A320/1 A330,B777.PAL A320s Air Macau A319/20/21.All the major Euro Airlines visit daily and the U.S.Majors.Emirates with B777/3 and my first EK B777F.Qantas visit with an A330 After dark.The cargo movements are great U.P.S. B747,757.767,MD11.Fed ex MD11 all the B-reg cargo airlines are in and out all the time.
The Ease Hotel has a buffet each morning and night which my two traveling companions said was very good.I dined at the Pizza Hut or the K.F.C.which is on the floor next to the MAGLEV Station.You must go on the MAGLEV it takes you into Shanghai at up to 430km per hour it cost 800 rem for around trip about 7 pounds 50p.the journey is awesome.
The Supermarket next to the K.F.C.is great for beer and snacks.large bottles of Tsningo beer for about 40p,the hotel bar charges about 3 pounds for a small one !
I would recomend this trip to anyone at no time did anyone ask us what we were doing.On the Mound at Beijing some of the locals come and stand by you and stare at you but if you just smile they are fine.never anywere in China have I felt in danger this was my 4th visit to China and I cant wait for my 5th.Just one other thing the beautiful young girls that smile at you in bars and clubs are smiling at your wallet not you !!!
Anyone want anymore INFO just ask.
Cheers.
Alan Jones.
Liverpool,UK.i
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Post by viscount on Nov 21, 2009 13:52:55 GMT 1
Of interest to some may be the 7 side article in the December 2009 (Cathay Pacific 777 on the cover) Key publishing 'Airliner World' magazine on the subject of Chinese Airports. 17 Airports are detailed in terms of their origins and growth plans. A table lists the 2008 passenger numbers for the top 30 airports. This article does not mention 'spotter spots' etc. however.
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