The right side delivers the most memorable moments of the trip: Detroit's riverfront at departure and the Yangtze delta with Shanghai's skyline at arrival, plus a chance at distant Alaskan peaks and Kamchatka's volcanoes during the rerouted Pacific crossing. The left side spends most of the flight over featureless Canadian boreal forest, Arctic tundra, and open ocean.
Flight Path
The great-circle path curves up over northern Canada and the Bering Sea before descending along the Pacific side of Kamchatka and past Japan, so the midpoint of the flight lies roughly over the Bering Sea near the Kamchatka Peninsula, with its chain of snow-capped volcanic cones occasionally visible below scattered clouds.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from DTW
RIGHTDeparting DTW toward the northwest, the aircraft's right side sweeps past the Detroit River, downtown Detroit's skyline, and Windsor, Ontario, before the route heads out over Lake St. Clair. The left side mostly shows flat Michigan farmland with little to distinguish it.
Landing at PVG
RIGHTOn approach into PVG from the north, the right side of the aircraft faces west across the Yangtze River delta toward Shanghai's Pudong skyline and the braided channels of the estuary, while the left side looks out over open coastal water and Hangzhou Bay with far less to see.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to Shanghai. The right side delivers the most memorable moments of the trip: Detroit's riverfront at departure and the Yangtze delta with Shanghai's skyline at arrival, plus a chance at distant Alaskan peaks and Kamchatka's volcanoes during the rerouted Pacific crossing. The left side spends most of the flight over featureless Canadian boreal forest, Arctic tundra, and open ocean.
What can I see during takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co in Detroit?
During takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing DTW toward the northwest, the aircraft's right side sweeps past the Detroit River, downtown Detroit's skyline, and Windsor, Ontario, before the route heads out over Lake St. Clair. The left side mostly shows flat Michigan farmland with little to distinguish it. Notable sights include: Detroit River, downtown Detroit skyline, Windsor Ontario, Lake St. Clair shoreline.
What can I see when landing at Shanghai Pudong International in Shanghai?
When landing at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. On approach into PVG from the north, the right side of the aircraft faces west across the Yangtze River delta toward Shanghai's Pudong skyline and the braided channels of the estuary, while the left side looks out over open coastal water and Hangzhou Bay with far less to see. Notable sights include: Yangtze River estuary, Chongming Island, Shanghai Pudong skyline (Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower), Hangzhou Bay coastline.
How long is the flight from Detroit to Shanghai?
The flight from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) takes 14h 35m.
What does the Detroit to Shanghai flight path pass over?
The great-circle path curves up over northern Canada and the Bering Sea before descending along the Pacific side of Kamchatka and past Japan, so the midpoint of the flight lies roughly over the Bering Sea near the Kamchatka Peninsula, with its chain of snow-capped volcanic cones occasionally visible below scattered clouds.