Heavy construction going on around CAN for a new terminal as well as a new runway. A lot of locations are no longer available and due the ongoing constructions changes to the existing spots are possible.

Guangzhou-Baiyun airport, serving a metropolis of 11 million of inhabitants, is the main airport of the Guandong province. The airport is the main hub of China Southern Airlines and a focus city for Shenzhen Airlines. “Baiyun” means “white clouds” in Chinese, and refers to Mount Baiyun near the airport. The airport opened on August 5, 2004, replacing the 72-year-old previous, identically named Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (now closed). The new airport is 28 kilometers North-East from downtown Guangzhou. The airport is the hub – and so is dominated – by China Southern Airlines but keeps a good selections and variety of Chinese airlines and also a good international traffic. This a busy airport with a nice mix of traffic between widebodies and even relatively small aircraft like the ERJ-190 that are impossible to see, for example in Beijing, dominated instead by larger capacity aircraft. In the morning there is a large number of international flights with widebodies aircraft.

At Guangzhou you can see Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Loong Air, Capital Al., Tianjing Al., Hainan Al. Chonqing Al., Sping, China United and others. The airport is located to the North-East of the big town and easily reachable with the efficient metro service.

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.

Written by Brent Wang, Luciano Manara, Cedric Valence, Herbert Xie Markus Mainka and Ruoyang Yan. Last changes February 2026: New Spot 2, 3, 6 and 7 added

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
03/21 (easternmost)	3.600 m (11.811 ft) Concrete
02L/20R (center)	3.800 m (12.467 ft) Concrete
02R/20L (center)	3.800 m (12.467 ft) Concrete
01L/19R (westernmost)	3.400 m (11.155 ft) Concrete
01R/19L  (western)	3.600 m (11.811 ft) Concrete
Terminals
Terminal 1	Used by various Chinese carriers like Air China
Terminal 2	In service for China Southern airlines and Xiamen Airlines, as well as some of the Skyteam members
Terminal 3	Newest terminal, opened back in October 2025. Good variety of airlines which are not located in T1 and T2.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed and not recommend to use!
Car/Public Transport	Not recommend as metro + car hailing apps make it more convenient.
Restrooms	Only for location 1 as it’s near the terminals.
Drinks/Food	Suggest to take what you need except for location 1.
Hotels	Many hotels around the airport, most of them provide 24hrs free shuttles to the terminals. At spot 2 there is a hotel directly nearby.
Season	All year round
Runway Usage
03/21	Normally in use for landings. Expect flights located at Terminal 3.
02L/20R	Normally in use for take offs. Expect flights located at Terminal 1 and 2.
02R/20L	Normally in use for landings. Expect flights located at Terminal 1 and 2.
01L/19R	Normally in use for landings. Expect flights located at Terminal 1 and 2.
01R/19L	Normally in use for take offs. Expect flights located at Terminal 1 and 2.

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 – Y270 – 02R arrivals
WHERE	This place is on a small road beside road Y270. Car can park there. If use public transport, you should get Metro Renhe(人和）station and trans bus station Renhexu(人和墟),and take bus No.971 towards Renhe Street Bus Terminal and get off at Renhe Village (人和村)station and walk along Road Y270 for about 900m to get there. LINK to Baidu maps
WHAT	This spot is good for runway 02R arrivals.
TIME	From sunrise to noon all year round
MISC.	There is nothing there. It’s best to bring all the things, including food, water and stools. Supplies can be purchased from the shops near the bus station.
FOCAL LENGTH	Wide body (777/787/MD11): 170mm Narrow body (737/320/321): 250mm

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	Spot #2 – Small Park – 02R arrivals
WHERE	This place is along Yingbin Blvd close to the traffic lights, there’s a grassy area with flowers; it’s possible to spot landings 02R from there. It’s best to stay on the asphalt of the small road just to the north to avoid damaging it. There is a bus No.971 from terminals to the industrial area around, stop at “Private Aviation”, walk 5 min. If you stay at “Ausotel Smart Baiyun International Airport T2 Hotel or the Novotel”, it takes about 15min walk from there. There is a free hotel shuttle from / to the airport T1, 2 or 3. Link to Apple maps
WHAT	This spot is good for runway 02R arrivals. You can also take some pictures of some aircrafts riding from T3 in the direction of runway 02L for the take-off. But aircrafts of T3 usually depart from runway 03, you ‘ll just get some of them, usually flying to the west.
TIME	From late noon until sunset.
MISC.	There is nothing there. It’s best to bring all the things, including food, water and stools.
FOCAL LENGTH	Wide body (747/787/777): 120mm Narrow body (737/320/321): 200mm

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	Spot #3 – Field – 02R arrivals and taxiway
WHERE	From the traffic light of Yingbin Blvd and access to the private terminal, you’ll find a large field. Cross it to the fence and you’ll arrive at a little street on a mont, with a great view on the taxiway and the arrivals 02R. Take bus No.971 from the terminals to the industrial area around, stop at “Private Aviation”, walk 5 min. If you stay at “Ausotel Smart Baiyun International Airport T2 or the Novotel”, it takes about 15min walk from there. There is a free hotel shuttle from / to the airport T1, 2 or 3. This location is located in a field with construction in progress, and may be inaccessible soon.Link to Apple Maps
WHAT	This spot is good for runway 02R arrivals. You can also take some pictures of some aircrafts riding from T3 in the direction of runway 02L for the take-off. But aircrafts of T3 usually depart from runway 03, you ‘ll just get some of them, usually flying to the west.
TIME	From late noon until sunset.
MISC.	There is nothing there. It’s best to bring all the things, including food, water and stools.
FOCAL LENGTH	Wide body (777/787/MD11) 02R: 100mm Narrow body (737/320/321) 02R: 150mm Taxi +- 35mm

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	Spot #4 – ST Aerospace Guangzhou – Apron
WHERE	The spotting location is on a small bridge outside the fence of ST Aerospace Guangzhou(STAG) apron. Since there is no regular public transport near the spot, the best way to get there is call a Uber by “Didi” from Renhe(人和) or Gaozeng(高增) metro station and set the destination as”广州新科宇航科技有限公司“, and you’ll see a water channel and the spot as soon as arrive. It’s not easy to call a car from the spot so when you leave, you may have to walk 15-20 minutes to the nearest bus stop “Lixi Village Committee”(李溪村委) and take Rt.710 or 花71 to metro station. If you can contact a local spotter who has a car, the trip can be much more easier.
WHAT	As a major airframe service provider of Guangzhou, STAG maintains aircrafts from various airlines around the world. Delta’s 767 fleet and Japan Airlines’ 737 fleet are two regular visitors of STAG, so you can catch them from the spot easily. Besides, STAG also provides P2F conversion of Airbus A321,which means it’s possible to see an untitled A321P2F stay on the apron if you’re lucky enough. Notice that you can ONLY photograph the aircraft on the STAG apron here. Normally it only have a few movements and most of them are in midnight. Sometimes there is no aircraft on the apron, so it’s recommended to observe the STAG apron from spot 2 or consult local spotters before you get there.
TIME	From October to March it’s perfect to spot the north apron (for various airlines and A321P2F) all day long. From April to September it’s also able to spot the south apron(mainly for Delta 767)in daytime, but major part of the aircraft would hide behind the fence. Night shot is available all year around.
MISC.	A restaurant is located 200 meters away from the spot. However, bring some food and water by yourself is still recommended.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm for the north apron. For an aircraft taxiing via the bridge, even a smartphone can spot it.

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	Spot #5 – Shan Xia Xiang Xi Rd – 20L arrivals
WHERE	This place is along the road Shan xia xiang xi Rd. As there are far from the main road, take public transportation to get there will be a problem. Get off at metro station Airport South and walk to airport South Gate 13 bus station(机场南13号门站）and take bus 花17A or 708 to Guangzhou International Logistics Center Station(广州国际物流中心站) and walk about 2 kilometers to get there. So, it is recommended that get there by taxi. Car can be parked here. Position yourself along the road. https://j.map.baidu.com/62/Wqik and https://j.map.baidu.com/b9/9Qik
WHAT	Good for 20L arrivals
TIME	Almost all day (east side from sunrise until noon and west side from afternoon until sunset)
MISC.	No ladder needed. Nothing at here. Bring all your things to there. The nearest shop is a grocery at Shan xia Rd. (It takes about 500m to get there)
FOCAL LENGTH	150mm for wide body(777/747/A330) 200mm for narrow body (737/A320/ARJ-21).

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	Spot #6 – Observation Deck
WHERE	With the opening of terminal 3, there is now a public outdoor observation deck on the eight floor, the first one in China. It is called “The Lookout” and is before security check. It is located in the western side of the terminal so just look out for the signs. To limit the number of visitors, you need a boarding pass to access the location, there is a control at the feet of the escalator. Use any boarding pass, it will work. When you arrive at T3, take left tha climb to the next floor, you’ll find “The Look Out” easily.
WHAT	Best for arrivals on runway 02R, and the heat wave problem is less pronounced because the aircraft are still airborne. You can photograph the aircraft lineup on 02L, but if the temperature rises, you’ll get heat waves. Taxis from the west gates of Terminal 3 to the departure area can be photographed right in front of you; the access points crossing runway 02R don’t appear to be in use. If there are aircraft parked in front of “The Lookout,” there may be heat waves produced by the APUs, but these positions don’t seem to be in use yet. If runways 20L and 20R are in use, this spot is unsuitable. Aircraft leave the runway early, and takeoffs are already very high in the sky.
TIME	Best time from sunrise until noon. Be aware of heat distortion especially for the runway movements.
MISC.	There is some kind of horizontal mesh where your camera lense easily fit trough (like the decks in Japan). You don’t have to pay, free admission. The “Look Out” is open everydays from 8 AM till 6 PM. There are security guards all day, you are in a safe area. You can find restaurants just at the feet of the escalators, there are lavatories on the deck and in the food court area.
FOCAL LENGTH	Runway 02L: A320 +- 400mm and 777-300 +- 290mm Runway 02R: A320 +- 180mm and 777-300 +- 70mm Taxiway: A320 +- 60mm and 787-9 +- 20mm

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	Spot #7 – Parking Garage
WHERE	From terminal 3, take the direction of the new train station in front of terminal 3 and go to parking P.11, it takes about 8 minutes to walk. Take the lift to the last floor and walk to the south-east extremity of the parking lot, you’ll find a place to spot.
WHAT	This spot is good for runway 03 activities, departures and landings. You’ll see taxis from east side T3 to runway 03 and 02L. In case of runway 21 in use, some heavy landings of runway can be spotted, but mainly aircrafts leaves the runway before. The take-off rnw 21 may be spotted. This spot is not easy because there are many lighting poles and you have to take the photos when the planes are between two of them.
TIME	From late noon until sunset.
MISC.	There are lavatories, shops and restaurants at the train station’s terminal. There are lots of cameras around, the parking’s security staff may ask you what you’re doing there, just explain with a smile and you’ll get no problem. For runway 21-03 activity, you risk getting some heat waves in case of sun.
FOCAL LENGTH	Wide body (777/787/MD11): 170mm for taxiway and 250mm for the runway 03-21 Narrow body (737/320/321): 250mm taxiway and 350mm for the runway 03-21

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