Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX / ZBAD) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Beijing, China
Beijing Daxing
PKX/ZBAD
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 05:47 local
- Active runway
- 17L / 17R / 19R
- METAR wind
- 190° @ 6 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 17L - sunny side
- Sun
- 98° / -10°
Wind vector · +6 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sunrise in 51m
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Best Beijing Daxing (PKX) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR190° @ 6 kt
2°C · 10+ km · 1026 hPa
CAVOK
Sunrise in 51m
Runway alerts for Beijing Daxing 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 PKX, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short final 17L - sunny side Runway 17L | SIDE LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | BACKLIT / GLARE | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 07:00. Avoid 11:00-17:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
| Short final 17R - sunny side Runway 17R | SIDE LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | BACKLIT / GLARE | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 07:00. Avoid 11:00-17:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 17L / 17R / 19R · Dep 17L / 17R
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11L | 103° | 12,467 ft | +0.3 kt | 6.0 kt | Standby |
| 29R | 283° | 12,467 ft | -0.3 kt | 6.0 kt | Standby |
| 17L | 173° | 12,467 ft | +5.7 kt | 1.8 kt | Both |
| 35R | 353° | 12,467 ft | -5.7 kt | 1.8 kt | Standby |
| 17R | 173° | 12,467 ft | +5.7 kt | 1.8 kt | Both |
| 35L | 353° | 12,467 ft | -5.7 kt | 1.8 kt | Standby |
| 01L | 353° | 11,155 ft | -5.7 kt | 1.8 kt | Standby |
| 19R | 173° | 11,155 ft | +5.7 kt | 1.8 kt | Landing |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Beijing Daxing (ZBAD)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.825 | Published |
| Tower | 118.375 | Published |
| Approach | 120.325 | Assigned |
| Departure | 124.075 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.975 | Published |
| Ground | 121.625 | Published |
| Delivery | 128.375 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 127.225 | Published |
| ATIS | 128.400 | 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 Beijing Daxing (PKX/ZBAD)
Which runway is active at Beijing Daxing (PKX/ZBAD) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 05:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing 17L+17R+19R, departure 17L+17R. The METAR wind is 190° at 6 kt. 17L shows +5.7 kt headwind and 1.8 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Beijing Daxing (PKX) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 120° azimuth and 14° elevation. Short final 17L - sunny side scores 77/100, 1234 m from runway 17L, view bearing 202.3°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 240° and 13°. Short final 17L - sunny side scores 80/100 on a 143.7° 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 Beijing Daxing International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX/ZBAD) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. 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 0 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 ZBAD spotting locations?
ZBAD spotting locations sun direction: Short final 17L - sunny side (runway 17L) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and BACKLIT / GLARE in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 07:00. Avoid 11:00-17:00 harsh backlit contrast. Short final 17R - sunny side (runway 17R) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and BACKLIT / GLARE in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 07:00. Avoid 11:00-17:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Beijing Daxing (PKX)?
Short final 17L - sunny side is 1234 m from the 17L 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 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Beijing Daxing (ZBAD)?
Monitor Tower 118.825 MHz, Ground 121.975 MHz, ATIS 127.225 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 118.825 MHz.
How do I know when Beijing Daxing (PKX) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 190° at 6 kt, so 17L 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/ZBAD#runway-alerts