Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG/ZSNJ) is the gateway of Jiangsu Province and Nanjing City, which is the main hub airport of China and the main freight airport in East China. This airport is located in Jiangning District, about 40km from the center of Nanjing.

Nanjing Lukou International Airport was officially opened in July 1997, terminal 2 and runway 2 were opened in July 2014. At present, this airport is a 4F airport with two runways, two terminal buildings (terminal 1 is undergoing renovation and expansion), two freight terminals and a transportation center. In 2018, 63 companies operated regular passenger flights and cargo flights at NKG, routes reached 122 cities, including 89 cities in China and 33 cities in international and regional areas. Passenger throughput in 2018 is about 28 million, ranking 11th in China.

Flight information can be accessed on the airport official website.

General tips for China

many foreign websites and apps are blocked and don’t work in China. Below you will find some helpful apps:

• WeChat: every Chinese use this app, it also has a good translation function that helps really a lot because the language is the main barrier. You can translate from Chinese writings and they can translate your English into Chinese characters. This is a must have. The common western messenger services like Facebook, WhatsApp etc. don not work in China!
• Alipay: it is a major Chinese App that can be registered abroad and almost all shops/stores/hotels etc. support it as an official payment. You can add your western credit card like Amex, VISA or Mastercard to Alipay in advance. Furthermore you can also book and pay flights, hotels, restaurants, didi etc. with the app. This app is a must have!
• Didi: the Chinese “Uber”. Very helpful to reach the spots which are not connected to the public transport.
• Baidu Maps or Gaode Maps: this is the chinese google/apple maps.

We recommend to buy a chinese eSIM in advance from airalo for example. It is cheap and simple to install.

Guide was written by Qiao Zheng and Zheng Yize. Last change: October 2023 (Spot 5 added)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
06/24	3.600m (11.811ft)
07/25	3.600m (11.811ft)
Terminals
Terminal 1	All carriers except China Eastern Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, and international flights
Terminal 2	China Eastern Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, and international flights
Spotting Information
Ladder	It’s not necessary. If you have a ladder will be better, because some of the bamboo poles in bird nets are relativley high, will block the aircraft tyres.
Car/Public Transport	Car is recommended. If there is no car use the metro to one of the two stations and from there call a Didi (Uber). All spots are relatively remote and it takes a while until a vehicle shows up. The metro fare from downtown to here is about ￥7-13(Around ＄1, depending on where you depart.
Restrooms	There is nothing at the spots themselves.
Drinks/Food	There is nothing at the spots themselves.
Hotels	The only hotel connected to airport grounds is the Pullman Nanjing Lukou Airport Hotel (see spot 5). Other nearby hotels include Atour Hotle, Ramada Hotel, etc.
Season	Sunny days are rare in winter months, but common in summer. Therefore heat distortion is a big problem around noon in summer months. Between April and November there are many mosquitoes. Please remember to bring mosquito repellent products.
Runway Usage
06/24	Usually used for departures.
07/25	Usually used for arrivals.

Due to national security concerns, the use of geographic information in China is restricted and the layers in google maps don´t fit. The satellite images are correct but the street layers are displaced! 
Please click on the link at each location (WHERE) to get to the chinese website baidu where you find an exact map with satellite and street view images. If you use a smartphone please download the Baidu App.

	Spot #1 – Shanghong Road – 07/25 activities
WHERE	There is no convenient public transport to Spot#1 from Terminal 2, you need to drive to this spot. Drive southward along Lutong Road(No. 103rd Village Road) to Jincheng College, then turn right to Shanghuan Road. Continue to drive westward along Shanghuan Road to the end, then turn right to Shanghong Road. And continue to drive northward along Shanghong Road to the end will reach the airport boundary. From the spot you’ll be able to look over the fence directly without any helpful object (such as a ladder or similar). The nearest target in navigation software is “Shanghong Road”(“尚洪路”)，drive northward along Shanghong Road to the end. By public transport take metro Line S9 to Tongshan Station and transfer Didi(Uber in china)is a good choice, the station is 3 km far away from spot #1/2. LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS
WHAT	This is a relatively easy spot to reach, and better light lasts longer. RWY 07/25 is mainly used for landing. In this location, you can photograph arrivals both on RWY 07 and RWY 25, and sometimes a few aircraft takeoff in the early morning.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till 1 pm in summer, and from sunrise till 4 pm in winter.
MISC.	There is no food, no water, no restroom. You need to take everything there yourself. Small shop and a McDonald’s are near the metro station. If you have a ladder will be better, because some of the bamboo poles in bird nets are relatively high, will block the aircraft tyres. So Ladder recommended.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

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	Spot #2 – Touchdownpoint – 07 arrivals + Line-Ups
WHERE	This spot is very close to Spot#1. You need to park at Spot#1, then walk westward along the path outside the airport boundary. For about 800 meters, where the path turned southward, is just the target location. Search your favourite position in this area then, where you are near the touchdownpoint then. From the spot you’ll be able to look over the fence directly without any helpful object (such as a ladder or similar). By public transport take metro Line S9 to Tongshan Station and transfer Didi(Uber in china)is a good choice, the station is 3 km far away from spot #1/2. LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS
WHAT	RWY 07/25 is mainly used for landing. In this location, you can photograph arrivals on RWY 07, and sometimes cagro takeoffs in the early summer morning.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till 1 pm in summer, and from sunrise till 4 pm in winter.
MISC.	There is no food, no water, no restroom. You need to take everything there yourself. Small shop and a McDonald’s are near the metro station. No ladder needed/useful.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

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	Spot #3 – Guanjiabian – 24 departures
WHERE	There is no convenient public transport to Spot#3 from Terminal 2, you need to drive to this spot. You can see a radar station at the southwest corner of the T-junction between Baoshuiyuan Avenue and Lukou Street. Then continue to drive southward along the path beside the radar station for about 400 meters to reach the airport boundary. From the spot you’ll be able to look over the fence directly without any helpful object (such as a ladder or similar). Navigation software can be used to select “Guanjiabian”(“官家边”) as the target location. By public transport: take metro line S1 to Xiangyulunan and transfer Didi(Uber in china) is avaliable. LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS Update – FEB/2019: A construction site has appeared nearby recently and the future is unknown at the moment.
WHAT	RWY 06/24 is mainly used for takeoff. In this location, you can photograph aircraft on taxiway(will be some geothermal effects) and takeoffs on RWY 24.
TIME	Best light from 3 pm till sunset in summer. All day backlight almost in winter.
MISC.	There is no food, no water, no restroom. You need to prepare everything yourself. There are vending machines and toilets at the metro station
FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm Taxiway: 200-400mm / Runway: 70-200mm

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	Spot #4 – Zhuanghu Village – 06/24 departures
WHERE	There is no convenient public transport to Spot#4 from Terminal 2, you need to drive to this spot. You can see a radar station at the southwest corner of the T-junction between Baoshuiyuan Avenue and Lukou Street. Continue to drive westward along Baoshuiyuan Avenue for about 1300 meters, where you can see a factory with blue doors on your left, then turn left and drive southward along the No. 122nd Village Road. For about 900 meters, where you can see a nursery on your left, then turn left and drive southward along the path to reach the airport boundary. Then you’ll find some rocks near the fence where you can climb on and spot from easily to get over the fence well. The nearest target in navigation software is “Zhuanghu Village”(“庄湖村”)，”Zhuanghu Village” and the nursery are both on the No. 122nd Village Road. By public transport: take metro line S1 to Xiangyulunan and transfer Didi(Uber in china) is avaliable. LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS
WHAT	RWY 06/24 is mainly used for takeoff. In this location, you can photograph aircraft on taxiway(will be some geothermal effects) and takeoffs on RWY 24 or takeoffs on RWY 06(most aircraft are still taxiing at high speeds).
TIME	Best light from 3 pm till sunset in summer. All day backlight almost in winter.
MISC.	There is no food, no water, no restroom. You need to take everything there yourself. No ladder needed/useful. There are vending machines and toilets at the metro station
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm Taxiway: 150-300mm / Runway: 70-200mm

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	Spot #5 – Pullman Hotel – 06/24 departures
WHERE	The Pullman Hotel, located between Terminal 1 and 2, is also a safe spotting location with some nice views. You can request the hotel to arrange a room towards the apron for you. Due to safety issues, the balcony cannot be opened and you need to shoot through window.
WHAT	Great for movements on the taxiway between the terminals and a small part of the apron. Both runways are visible in the far distance.
TIME	Best light before 11am in winter and if in summer the light will be good again before sunset. Night shots can be done as well.
MISC.	Everything you need is within the hotel.
FOCAL LENGTH	Taxiway: 747=180mm Ramp: A320=120mm

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