While takeoff favors the right side for the Guangzhou cityscape, the long cruise phase over Xinjiang's Tian Shan foothills and the Central Asian steppe lies mostly to the left of the flight path as the aircraft curves northwest, plus the left side gets the more distinctive Dutch polder-and-water landing sequence.
Flown CAN to AMS? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Guangzhou to Amsterdam is 5,679 miles (9,140 km), a flight of about 11 hours 50 minutes.
Tian Shan mountain range and Taklamakan Desert edge in Xinjiang, followed by the Kazakh steppe and the southern Ural foothills before crossing into Eastern Europe
Great circle distance and headings ›
Phase by phase
Takeoff from CAN
RIGHTDeparting CAN, the initial climb tracks over the Pearl River Delta before the turn onto the northwest routing, giving right-side passengers a good look at Guangzhou's dense high-rise core and the braided channels of the Pearl River before the city gives way to the hills of northern Guangdong.
Landing at AMS
LEFTOn the approach into AMS from the southeast, left-side passengers get the classic Dutch polder view — flat green fields cut by canals, the IJsselmeer's grey-blue expanse, and glimpses of Amsterdam's outskirts before the final turn onto the Polderbaan.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to Schiphol (AMS)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Guangzhou to Amsterdam. While takeoff favors the right side for the Guangzhou cityscape, the long cruise phase over Xinjiang's Tian Shan foothills and the Central Asian steppe lies mostly to the left of the flight path as the aircraft curves northwest, plus the left side gets the more distinctive Dutch polder-and-water landing sequence.
What can I see during takeoff from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou?
During takeoff from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing CAN, the initial climb tracks over the Pearl River Delta before the turn onto the northwest routing, giving right-side passengers a good look at Guangzhou's dense high-rise core and the braided channels of the Pearl River before the city gives way to the hills of northern Guangdong. Notable sights include: Guangzhou skyline (Zhujiang New Town), Pearl River channels, Baiyun Mountain, Nanling foothills.
What can I see when landing at Schiphol in Amsterdam?
When landing at Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the approach into AMS from the southeast, left-side passengers get the classic Dutch polder view — flat green fields cut by canals, the IJsselmeer's grey-blue expanse, and glimpses of Amsterdam's outskirts before the final turn onto the Polderbaan. Notable sights include: IJsselmeer, Dutch polder canal grid, Amsterdam western suburbs, Schiphol's Polderbaan runway.
How long is the flight from Guangzhou to Amsterdam?
The flight from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to Schiphol (AMS) takes about 11 hours 50 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,679 miles (9,140 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Guangzhou to Amsterdam flight path pass over?
Tian Shan mountain range and Taklamakan Desert edge in Xinjiang, followed by the Kazakh steppe and the southern Ural foothills before crossing into Eastern Europe