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Explore retired aircraft skin tags ->Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG / ZSNJ) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Nanjing, China
Nanjing Lukou
NKG/ZSNJ
Updated Thu 29 Oct, 09:17 local
- Active runway
- 06 / 07
- METAR wind
- VRB @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 06 - sunny side
- Sun
- 135° / 32°
Landing: 06 25% · 07 25% · 24 25% · 25 25% · Wind vector · +0 kt
VFR
Side-lit
Golden hour in 7h 29m
Departure: 06 25% · 07 25% · 24 25% · 25 25%
Side-litWant a Telegram ping when ZSNJ flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Nanjing Lukou (NKG) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFRVRB @ 2 kt
16°C · 10+ km · 1022 hPa
SCT033
Landing: 06 25% · 07 25% · 24 25% · 25 25%
Departure: 06 25% · 07 25% · 24 25% · 25 25%
Sunrise · Sunset
Az 135° · El 32°Side light
Sunrise
06:19
Sunset
17:19
Live · Auto-updatingThu 29 Oct, 09:17 localAz 135° · El 32°Side-lit
Golden hour in 7h 29m
+0h
Live flight board
Past Arrivals
Free · up to 10No landed arrivals recorded in the current radar window for ZSNJ.
Next Arrivals
Free #1 · Pro 2-10No inbound arrivals inside the 25 NM radar ring right now.
Unlock Arrivals #2 to #10 & Live Runway Odds
Past Departures
Free · up to 10No departures recorded in the current radar window for ZSNJ.
Next Departures
Free #1 · Pro 2-10No taxiing departures inside the 25 NM radar ring right now.
Unlock Departures #2 to #10 & Live Runway Odds
Runway alerts for Nanjing Lukou 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 NKG, 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 06 - sunny side Runway 06 | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 11:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 07 - sunny side Runway 07 | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 11:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 06 / 07 · Dep 06 / 07
Landing: 06 25% · 07 25% · 24 25% · 25 25%
Departure: 06 25% · 07 25% · 24 25% · 25 25%
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 | 58° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 24 | 238° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 07 | 58° | 11,810 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 25 | 238° | 11,810 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Nanjing Lukou (ZSNJ)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.850 | Verified |
| Approach | 119.250 | Verified |
| Ground | 121.700 | Verified |
| ATIS | 126.250 | Verified |
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 pageYour brand on ZSNJ
One sponsor card on the ZSNJ live map. $85/mo, shown to spotters after they check the runway.
Sponsor ZSNJ ($85/mo) ->Alerts: $3/mo or $29/yr Pro for 45-minute Telegram runway and exceptional-flight pings. Partner links may earn a commission.
Frequently asked questions about plane spotting at Nanjing Lukou (NKG/ZSNJ)
Which runway is active at Nanjing Lukou (NKG/ZSNJ) right now?
As of Thu 29 Oct, 09:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 06+07. The METAR wind is variable at 2 kt. 06 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 Nanjing Lukou (NKG) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 120° azimuth and 19° elevation. Short final 06 - sunny side scores 79/100, 1234 m from runway 06, view bearing 28.7°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 244° and 15°. Short final 06 - sunny side scores 91/100 on a 87.2° 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 Nanjing Lukou International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG/ZSNJ) 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: Short final 06 - sunny side, Short final 07 - sunny side. 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 ZSNJ spotting locations?
ZSNJ spotting locations sun direction: Short final 06 - sunny side (runway 06) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 11:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 07 - sunny side (runway 07) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 11:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Nanjing Lukou (NKG)?
Short final 06 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 06 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 Nanjing Lukou (ZSNJ)?
Monitor Tower 118.85 MHz, Ground 121.7 MHz, Approach 119.25 MHz, ATIS 126.25 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 118.85 MHz.
How do I know when Nanjing Lukou (NKG) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near variable at 2 kt, so 06 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/ZSNJ#runway-alerts
How is Plane Spotter's Live funded? Do you use affiliate or sponsor links?
Plane Spotter's Live is independent and free to use. To cover live weather, radar, and hosting costs without intrusive popups or display ads, we offer optional $3/mo Telegram runway flip alerts, one quiet $85/mo sponsor slot per airport, and selected partner referral links (such as Aviationtag retired aircraft skin tags, telephoto lens rentals, VHF airband scanners, and runway-view airport hotels). If you purchase through a partner link, we may earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you.