Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA / ZSSS) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Shanghai (Minhang), China
Shanghai Hongqiao
SHA/ZSSS
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 05:47 local
- Active runway
- 36R / 36L
- METAR wind
- 30° @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 36R - sunny side
- Sun
- 102° / -5°
Wind vector · +2 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sunrise in 20m
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Best Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR30° @ 2 kt
13°C · 10+ km · 1027 hPa
CAVOK
Sunrise in 20m
Runway alerts for Shanghai Hongqiao 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 SHA, 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 36R - sunny side Runway 36R | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-13:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 36L - sunny side Runway 36L | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 11:00-17:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 36R / 36L · Dep 36R / 36L
TAF at Wed 28 Oct, 11:00 shifts the wind to 120° at 8 kt, favoring 18L+18R in about 5.2 hours.
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18L | 176° | 11,154 ft | -1.7 kt | 1.1 kt | Standby |
| 36R | 356° | 11,154 ft | +1.7 kt | 1.1 kt | Both |
| 18R | 176° | 10,826 ft | -1.7 kt | 1.1 kt | Standby |
| 36L | 356° | 10,826 ft | +1.7 kt | 1.1 kt | Both |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.100 | Published |
| Approach | 119.750 | Published |
| Approach | 120.300 | Published |
| Departure | 124.875 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.600 | Published |
| Delivery | 121.750 | Published |
| ATIS | 132.250 | 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 Hongqiao (SHA/ZSSS)
Which runway is active at Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA/ZSSS) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 05:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 36R+36L. The METAR wind is 30° at 2 kt. 36R shows +1.7 kt headwind and 1.1 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 121° azimuth and 21° elevation. Short final 36R - sunny side scores 91/100, 1234 m from runway 36R, view bearing 326.8°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 245° and 13°. Short final 36L - sunny side scores 88/100 on a 25.2° 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 Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA/ZSSS) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 36R - sunny side. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: Short final 36L - 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 ZSSS spotting locations?
ZSSS spotting locations sun direction: Short final 36R - sunny side (runway 36R) 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 07:00-13:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 36L - sunny side (runway 36L) 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 11:00-17:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA)?
Short final 36R - sunny side is 1234 m from the 36R 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 Hongqiao (ZSSS)?
Monitor Tower 118.1 MHz, Ground 121.6 MHz, Approach 119.75 MHz, ATIS 132.25 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 118.1 MHz.
How do I know when Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) switches active runways?
TAF at Wed 28 Oct, 11:00 shifts the wind to 120° at 8 kt, favoring 18L+18R in about 5.2 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/ZSSS#runway-alerts