Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG / ZSPD) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Shanghai (Pudong), China
Shanghai Pudong
PVG/ZSPD
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 06:47 local
- Active runway
- 35R / 34R / 34L
- METAR wind
- 320° @ 6 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 35R - sunny side
- Sun
- 110° / 8°
Wind vector · +6 kt headwind
VFR
Sweet spot
Golden hour in 9h 50m
Sweet spotWant a Telegram ping when ZSPD flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Shanghai Pudong (PVG) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR320° @ 6 kt
15°C · 10+ km · 1027 hPa
CAVOK
Golden hour in 9h 50m
Runway alerts for Shanghai Pudong 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 PVG, 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 35R - sunny side Runway 35R | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 34R - sunny side Runway 34R | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 35R / 34R / 34L · Dep 35R / 34R
TAF at Wed 28 Oct, 11:00 shifts the wind to 120° at 8 kt, favoring 17L+16L+16R in about 4.2 hours.
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17L | 162° | 13,123 ft | -5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Standby |
| 35R | 342° | 13,123 ft | +5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Both |
| 16L | 162° | 12,467 ft | -5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Standby |
| 34R | 342° | 12,467 ft | +5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Both |
| 16R | 162° | 12,467 ft | -5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Standby |
| 34L | 342° | 12,467 ft | +5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Landing |
| 17R | 162° | 11,154 ft | -5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Standby |
| 35L | 342° | 11,154 ft | +5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.400 | Published |
| Tower | 118.800 | Published |
| Approach | 119.750 | Published |
| Approach | 120.300 | Published |
| Departure | 126.125 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.650 | Published |
| Ground | 121.800 | Published |
| Delivery | 121.950 | Published |
| ATIS | 127.850 | 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 Shanghai Pudong (PVG/ZSPD)
Which runway is active at Shanghai Pudong (PVG/ZSPD) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 06:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing 35R+34R+34L, departure 35R+34R. The METAR wind is 320° at 6 kt. 35R shows +5.6 kt headwind and 2.2 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Shanghai Pudong (PVG) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 122° azimuth and 22° elevation. Short final 35R - sunny side scores 94/100, 1234 m from runway 35R, view bearing 312.8°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 246° and 13°. Short final 35R - sunny side scores 74/100 on a 312.8° 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 Shanghai Pudong International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG/ZSPD) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 35R - sunny side, Short final 34R - sunny side. 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 ZSPD spotting locations?
ZSPD spotting locations sun direction: Short final 35R - sunny side (runway 35R) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 34R - sunny side (runway 34R) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Shanghai Pudong (PVG)?
Short final 35R - sunny side is 1234 m from the 35R 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 Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD)?
Monitor Tower 118.4 MHz, Ground 121.65 MHz, Approach 119.75 MHz, ATIS 127.85 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 118.4 MHz.
How do I know when Shanghai Pudong (PVG) switches active runways?
TAF at Wed 28 Oct, 11:00 shifts the wind to 120° at 8 kt, favoring 17L+16L+16R in about 4.2 hours. 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/ZSPD#runway-alerts