Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN / ZGGG) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Guangzhou (Huadu), China
Guangzhou
CAN/ZGGG
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 07:36 local
- Active runway
- 02L / 02R / 01R
- METAR wind
- VRB @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 02R - sunny side
- Sun
- 111° / 14°
Wind vector · +0 kt headwind
VFR
Side-lit
Golden hour in 9h 45m
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Best Guangzhou (CAN) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFRVRB @ 2 kt
23°C · 10+ km · 1021 hPa
CAVOK
Golden hour in 9h 45m
Runway alerts for Guangzhou Baiyun 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 CAN, 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 02R - sunny side Runway 02R | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 09:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 02L - sunny side Runway 02L | SIDE LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 14:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 02L / 02R / 01R · Dep 02L / 02R
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02L | 14° | 12,467 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 20R | 194° | 12,467 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 02R | 14° | 12,467 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 20L | 194° | 12,467 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 01R | 14° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Landing |
| 19L | 194° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 03 | 14° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 21 | 193° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 01L | 14° | 11,155 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 19R | 194° | 11,155 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Guangzhou (ZGGG)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.100 | Published |
| Approach | 120.400 | Published |
| Departure | 126.175 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.750 | Published |
| Delivery | 121.950 | Published |
| ATIS | 128.600 | 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 Guangzhou (CAN/ZGGG)
Which runway is active at Guangzhou (CAN/ZGGG) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 07:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing 02L+02R+01R, departure 02L+02R. The METAR wind is variable at 2 kt. 02L is the long-runway pick because the wind is calm or variable. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Guangzhou (CAN) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 114° azimuth and 19° elevation. Short final 02R - sunny side scores 86/100, 1234 m from runway 02R, view bearing 344.8°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 243° and 23°. Short final 02L - sunny side scores 92/100 on a 43.2° 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 Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN/ZGGG) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 02R - sunny side. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: Short final 02L - sunny side. 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 ZGGG spotting locations?
ZGGG spotting locations sun direction: Short final 02R - sunny side (runway 02R) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 09:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 02L - sunny side (runway 02L) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at midday, and CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 14:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Guangzhou (CAN)?
Short final 02R - sunny side is 1234 m from the 02R 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 Guangzhou (ZGGG)?
Monitor Tower 118.1 MHz, Ground 121.75 MHz, Approach 120.4 MHz, ATIS 128.6 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 118.1 MHz.
How do I know when Guangzhou (CAN) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near variable at 2 kt, so 02L 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/ZGGG#runway-alerts