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 or on the Hotels.com site

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

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. These rooms will give great views of the runway and the large apron where most of the aircraft park. The only things you won't be able to see are the cargo and biz-jet aprons as well as a few aircraft on the main apron that are somewhat obscured by the airbridge's. Other than that you will not be disappointed. Obviously the higher the floor in the hotel, the better the view.

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.

Photos *** Very good opportunities, on some rooms the windows open all the way allowing excellent shots to be taken from the comfort of your room.

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

The view from room 702 is shown below

This hotel is available through the AGODA or Hotels.com 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 the following sites:

AGODA , Hotels.com