Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN / ZLXN) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Haidong (Huzhu Tu Autonomous County), China
Xining Caojiabao
XNN/ZLXN
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 06:56 local
- Active runway
- 11
- METAR wind
- Unavailable
- Best spot
- Short final 11 - sunny side
- Sun
- 101° / -7°
Wind vector · +0 kt headwind
Category n/a
Night
Sunrise in 35m
NightWant a Telegram ping when ZLXN flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Live METAR was unavailable, so the wind vector assumes calm air and prefers the longer runways.
Best Xining Caojiabao (XNN) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
Unavailable
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Sunrise in 35m
Runway alerts for Xining Caojiabao 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 XNN, 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 11 - sunny side Runway 11 | BACKLIT / GLARE | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 17:00-18:00. Avoid 08:00-13:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 11 · Dep 11
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 109° | 12,467 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 29 | 289° | 12,467 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Xining Caojiabao (ZLXN)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 119.450 | Assigned |
| Approach | 120.500 | Assigned |
| Departure | 124.150 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.825 | Assigned |
| Delivery | 129.050 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 134.000 | Assigned |
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 Xining Caojiabao (XNN/ZLXN)
Which runway is active at Xining Caojiabao (XNN/ZLXN) right now?
As of the latest cycle local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 11. The METAR wind is unavailable. 11 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 Xining Caojiabao (XNN) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 110° azimuth and 5° elevation. Short final 11 - sunny side scores 67/100, 1234 m from runway 11, view bearing 79.8°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 230° and 24°. Short final 11 - sunny side scores 90/100 on a 79.8° 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 Xining Caojiabao International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN/ZLXN) 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 1 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 ZLXN spotting locations?
ZLXN spotting locations sun direction: Short final 11 - sunny side (runway 11) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 17:00-18:00. Avoid 08:00-13:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Xining Caojiabao (XNN)?
Short final 11 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 11 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 Xining Caojiabao (ZLXN)?
This airport did not publish tower or ATIS frequencies in the open feed. Use the charted tower and ATIS, and remember online streams lag by 30 seconds or more.
How do I know when Xining Caojiabao (XNN) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near unavailable, so 11 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/ZLXN#runway-alerts