Taipei - Songshan

1Terminal area, P3

From the top level of car park P3, several aprons, taxiways and the runway can be seen. With some timing, even decent photography is possible. Aircraft in the nearby maintenance hangar can be identified, and these may include commuters from other south-east Asian countries. A prolonged stay at this spot might lead to an encounter with the police.

2Runway 10

This is the primary spot for Songshan, and also popular with local people. There is a low fence just before the threshold of runway 10, which is mostly in use from west to east. No movement, including helicopters departing from the helispot, has to go unnoticed from spot 2. Photography of aircraft departing from 10 is good. Shots of landings on 10 are possible too, but the very close proximity to the centreline makes that difficult. Be advised, despite it being legal if for private purposes, airplane photography by foreigners is usually not tolerated by the police. Usually cars can be parked in the narrow streets around spot 2. If there is no more room, the parks along the Keelung River offer an alternative, some 500m from here.

3North-west side

Being parked parallel to the runway, a number of aircraft and helicopters may be hard to identify from spot 2. Spot 3 will help complete the log. To get here, use BinJiang Street under the southern branch of Freeway 1, which is the major street on the northern perimeter. Where the road from DaZhi Bridge enters the tunnel under the airfield, use the one-way loop that goes around the tunnel entrance. Stopping a car along the fence here is no problem, and a lot can be seen behind the shrubberies.

4Opposite military apron

To get a better look at the military area, move east along BinJiang Road from spot 3, to one of the last entrances to businesses before the main road bends south. Amidst the garages, car wash and other buildings is a clearing where the excellent Airforceone Cafe is located. Due to the elevated terrace you have a good view over the runway and aprons. Even planes in open hangars can be read off from here. There is also some parking space.

5Final 28

With runway 28 in use, spot 5 offers a relaxed way to watch the landings. Ample parking space here and a free choice of positions to take photos from. Bear in mind with the latter that aircraft photography by foreigners remains sensitive in Taiwan. Disadvantage of this spot is the lack of view onto the airport, meaning departures and other movements on the field will go unnoticed.