HKG to TPE: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Hong Kong (HKG) to Taoyuan (TPE) is a 806 km (501 mi), roughly 1h 27m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime HKG to TPE departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins on both views and shade, so that’s the easy pick.
Sit on the left. The same side gets the clearest city-and-coastline views and the shade on a daytime departure. You start with the Pearl River Delta on your side, then a long run of coastal cities and islands, and finish with Taiwan on the right on approach.
Takeoff
On departure, the left side gives you the first good look, depending on the runway in use. Soon after takeoff, Macau and Zhuhai sit off to the left, with Dongguan and Shenzhen also on that side. Hong Kong Island is on the right, but it stays out of the main view.
En route
- 17m inRight →Shanwei · passes underneath
About 17 minutes in, Shanwei passes very close on the right, almost under the wing. It is a quick look, not a long one.
- 31m in← LeftJieyang
Around half an hour in, Jieyang is off the left side. It is part of a steady chain of cities that keeps the window busy.
- 52m in← LeftXiamen
About 52 minutes in, Xiamen sits left of the aircraft, with Gulangyu just before it. This is one of the better window moments on the route.
- 55m in← LeftKinmen County
A few minutes later, Kinmen County is also on the left. It reads as a small island group, so the shape is compact rather than sprawling.
- 1h 13m in← LeftTaiwan Strait
About 73 minutes in, the Taiwan Strait comes up on the left. It is the water crossing before Taiwan starts to fill the window.
Landing
On descent, the right side takes over, depending on the runway in use. Taiwan Island comes into view first, then Taichung on the right. Near touchdown, Taipei, New Taipei, Yangmingshan National Park, and Taoyuan are all on that side, with Taoyuan nearly under the aircraft.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from HKG to TPE?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on HKG to TPE flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from HKG to TPE?
The great-circle distance is 806 km (501 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 27m in the air on this eastbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on for HKG to TPE?
Sit on the left. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side for this daytime flight.
What can I see on the HKG to TPE flight?
You get cities and islands on the left during climb and cruise, including Macau, Shenzhen, Jieyang, Xiamen, and Kinmen County. On landing, the view shifts to the right for Taiwan and the Taipei area.