SHA to PEK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Shanghai (Minhang) (SHA) to Beijing (PEK) is a 1,076 km (668 mi), roughly 1h 46m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SHA to PEK departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Night |
| December solstice | Right | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side gives you the better views, and it is also the sunny side. If you want the scenery, left wins. If you want less glare, the right side is calmer.
Sit left for the best view, but expect more glare than shade. On a daytime northbound flight from SHA to PEK, the left side gets the stronger city and land views while the sun also sits on that side for much of the trip.
Takeoff
After departure from SHA, depending on the runway in use, you may catch Shanghai almost under the wing on the right. Then the better climb views shift left quickly, with Suzhou about 4 minutes in, Wuxi about 7 minutes in, and Jiaxing near the start of the climb on the left.
En route
- 32m in← LeftHuai'an
About half an hour in, Huai'an sits off the left side.
- 42m in← LeftLianyungang
Around 40 minutes in, Lianyungang stays to the left during cruise.
- 1h 06m in← LeftMount Tai
About an hour and 6 minutes in, Mount Tai comes into view on the left, with Tai'an beside it on that same side.
- 1h 11m in← LeftJinan
A few minutes later, Jinan is also on the left.
- 1h 35m inRight →Tianjin · passes underneath
Near 95 minutes in, Tianjin passes nearly overhead on the right, so it is a brief, steep look rather than a long side view.
Landing
On approach to PEK, depending on the runway in use, Langfang and then Beijing sit on the left. If you want the city-side view before landing, stay on that side.
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 SHA to PEK?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on SHA to PEK 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 SHA to PEK?
The great-circle distance is 1,076 km (668 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 46m in the air on this northbound 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 Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing Capital?
Sit on the left for the stronger views. The route is also sun-facing on that side, so you trade shade for scenery.
What can I see on the SHA to PEK flight?
You get early city views near Shanghai, then a run of Jiangsu and Shandong places on the left, including Suzhou, Wuxi, Huai'an, Lianyungang, Mount Tai, Jinan, and Tianjin near descent.