PEK to SHA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Beijing (PEK) to Shanghai (Minhang) (SHA) is a 1,076 km (668 mi), roughly 1h 46m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime PEK to SHA 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 | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Right side for views, left side for shade. You get the better lookout on the sunny side, so it is a straight tradeoff.
On this PEK to SHA flight, the right side gets the better views. It also gets the sun, so you trade shade for scenery. If you want a quieter window, sit left. If you want the show, sit right.
Takeoff
After departure from PEK, depending on the runway in use, Beijing sits off the right side within the first minute or so. Langfang follows a few minutes later on the right as you climb.
En route
- 11m in← LeftTianjin · passes underneath
About 10 minutes in, Tianjin passes very close on the left, almost under the aircraft. It is a brief look, not a long one.
- 35m inRight →Jinan
Around the 35-minute mark, Jinan comes into view on the right. It is one of the bigger city hits on this leg.
- 40m inRight →Mount Tai
Near 40 minutes in, Mount Tai sits off the right side. You also get Tai'an nearby on the same side.
- 53m in← LeftQingdao
About 53 minutes in, Qingdao is on the left. The view is side-on rather than overhead.
- 1h 04m inRight →Lianyungang
Roughly 64 minutes into the flight, Lianyungang appears on the right as you head deeper south.
Landing
On descent into SHA, depending on the runway in use, Wuxi and Suzhou stay on the right side as you come down. Shanghai itself passes very close on the left at the end, so keep both windows in mind if you like a final city view.
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 PEK to SHA?
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 PEK to SHA flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from PEK to SHA?
The great-circle distance is 1,076 km (668 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 46m in the air on this southbound 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 from PEK to SHA?
Sit on the right for the better views. Sit on the left if you want the shade.
Do you see Tianjin on this flight?
Yes. Tianjin passes very close on the left about 11 minutes after takeoff.