Plane spotting Shanghai, Plane spotting Pudong

SHANGHAI PUDONG

The Ramada Pudong Airport Shanghai is conveniently located just 1km from the terminal buildings. The hotel offers a free shuttle bus, for the five minute journey, which runs between the hours of 0530 to 2330. The hotel is frustratingly shaped like the letter "H". Therefore if you are not careful you are quite likely to have no interesting views at all. The best advise is to negotiate an airport facing room when you get there. Ask for a room on a high floor facing south but expect to have to pay more for these as they are the more expensive executive rooms. Room 522, for example, reportedly has views of the terminal and the nearest runway. The far runway can be seen but you will need a very good telescope and a steady hand to read the aircraft off. ACARS may come in useful for those aircraft.

Location *** Very convenient for the airport.

Spotting ** All depends on your room number.

Photos * No reports available on photo opportunities from the hotel.

Value ** Prices start at approximately £62 for a twin room per night.

FURTHER INFORMATION AND ONLINE BOOKINGS CAN BE FOUND ON THE AGODA SITE HERE

The Dazhong Merrylin Hotel Pudong Airport is linked to the terminals at Pudong Airport abeam the Magalev railway station. Pizza Hut and KFC can be found in the the station as well as a small supermarket. Note the reported rooms with a view only have the one bed, so be prepared for a cosy night!

Location *** Excellent on airport position, linked to the terminals by walkways.

Spotting *** You require a room on the higher levels looking to the south. Room 8802 has been tried and tested as an ideal room. From this location you can read off traffic on the connecting taxiway in front of you as well as having distant views of both runways. With SBS you wont miss a thing, without you will read off 90% of movements during the day but not a lot at night! Room 8806 also has views looking over to terminal 1, T2 movements can still be seen but at a poor angle. Room 8801 is confirmed as having similar views.

Photos * Just about possible however you are into sun and the windows are heavily tinted so quality is not too good.

Value ** Prices start at approximately £70 for a twin room per night.

Link to hotel site

Above, view from Room 8802 of the Dazhong Merrylin Hotel.

There are many other hotels in the Pudong area close to the airport from which we are awaiting reports from. A comprehensive list of hotels can be found HERE

SHANGHAI HONGQIAO

The Hong Gang Shanghai Hotel is located to the east of the terminal building and is very conveniently located for spotters. When booking this hotel, or upon arrival, ensure you ask for a room with an airport view. Higher rooms ending in even numbers are needed for the views shown below. Note that since the new terminal opened on the other side of the airfield, the apron shown below is rarely used. These rooms still have great views of the runway but the apron below is only used by Spring Airlines and a few international carriers.

Location *** Very convenient for the airport. Room 910 has great views but just the one bed, room 606 is lower but almost as good with the bonus of 2 beds! Room 702 also has the 2 beds and gives and good vantage point as shown in the photos below.

Spotting *** If you get a room facing the airport then expect to read off the vast majority of the aircraft as it arrives or departs the runway

Photos ** Good opportunities for aircraft which still use this apron (not many since the new terminal on the far side of the airfield was opened)

Value *** Outstanding value at just £29 for a twin room.

The view from room 702 is shown below. Note the apron is now where near as busy as shown below since the new terminal opened.

This hotel is available through the AGODA website

The Argyle Hotel is located across the car park from the Hong Gang hotel shown above. Although the views from the rooms are not as near as the Hong Gang above, all movements can be seen and the quality of the hotel is reportedly much better.

Location *** Very convenient for the airport and great views allow spotting from the room all day

Spotting *** Rooms 817-820 and 917-920 give great views of the runway action. Floor ending in 17-20 above this level offer the same views, however they are more expensive.

Photos *** With a 300 lens good shots will be possible.

Value ** Prices around £53 for a twin room.

This hotel can be booked through AGODA

There are many other hotels in the Hongqiao area close to the airport from which we are awaiting reports from. A comprehensive list of hotels can be found HERE

Shanghai is a fantastic place to visit. A comprehensive list of city hotels which can be used as a central base can be found HERE