Hong Kong International Airport (HKG / VHHH) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
HKG/VHHH
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 05:51 local
- Active runway
- 07L / 07C / 07R
- METAR wind
- 80° @ 15 kt
- Best spot
- Sha Lo Wan
- Sun
- 100° / -9°
Wind vector · +15 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sunrise in 36m
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Best Hong Kong (HKG) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR80° @ 15 kt
26°C · 10+ km · 1018 hPa
FEW020 SCT040
Sunrise in 36m
Runway alerts for Hong Kong International Airport
$3/mo
Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies
Lighting schedule
Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at HKG, scored from each spot's view bearing.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sha Lo Wan Runway 07R, 07C, 07L | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-11:00 local. Avoid 16:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
| Scenic Hill Runway 25L, 25C, 25R | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-11:00 local. Avoid 15:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 07L / 07C / 07R · Dep 07L / 07C
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07C | 71° | 12,467 ft | +14.8 kt | 2.3 kt | Both |
| 25C | 251° | 12,467 ft | -14.8 kt | 2.3 kt | Standby |
| 07L | 74° | 12,467 ft | +14.9 kt | 1.6 kt | Both |
| 25R | 254° | 12,467 ft | -14.9 kt | 1.6 kt | Standby |
| 07R | 71° | 12,467 ft | +14.8 kt | 2.3 kt | Landing |
| 25L | 251° | 12,467 ft | -14.8 kt | 2.3 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Hong Kong (VHHH)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.200 | Published |
| Tower | 118.400 | Published |
| Approach | 119.100 | Published |
| Departure | 123.800 | Published |
| Ground | 121.600 | Published |
| Ground | 122.550 | Published |
| Delivery | 129.900 | Published |
| ATIS | 128.200 | Published |
Lens for the top pin: Sony FE 200-600mm, Uniden Bearcat BC125AT, FlightAware Pro Stick. Sony FE 200-600mmUniden Bearcat BC125ATFlightAware Pro Stick
Open the ATC frequency pageFrequently asked questions about plane spotting at Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH)
Which runway is active at Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 05:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing 07L+07C+07R, departure 07L+07C. The METAR wind is 80° at 15 kt. 07L shows +14.9 kt headwind and 1.6 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Hong Kong (HKG) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 114° azimuth and 20° elevation. Sha Lo Wan scores 84/100, 857 m from runway 07R, view bearing 283.0°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 244° and 23°. Sha Lo Wan scores 59/100 on a 283.0° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.
What is the best time to plane spot at Hong Kong International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG/VHHH) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Sha Lo Wan, Scenic Hill. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 2 of 2 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.
What is the sun direction at VHHH spotting locations?
VHHH spotting locations sun direction: Sha Lo Wan (runway 07R, 07C, 07L) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at midday, and BACKLIT / GLARE in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-11:00 local. Avoid 16:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast. Scenic Hill (runway 25L, 25C, 25R) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at midday, and BACKLIT / GLARE in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-11:00 local. Avoid 15:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Hong Kong (HKG)?
Sha Lo Wan is 857 m from the 07R centerline, so the lens is 150-600mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 1611 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Hong Kong (VHHH)?
Monitor Tower 118.2 MHz, Ground 121.6 MHz, Approach 119.1 MHz, ATIS 128.2 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 118.2 MHz.
How do I know when Hong Kong (HKG) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 80° at 15 kt, so 07L remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/VHHH#runway-alerts