Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to Shanghai. Right seats win overall because the landing approach—which offers the most dramatic and sustained views—heavily favors the right side with the Pudong skyline and Huangpu River. The takeoff is secondary in visual interest on this ultra-long-haul flight.

During takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW), sit on the Left side for the best views. DTW typically departs runways 3L/3R (heading ~030°) or 9L/9R (heading ~090°). Left seats offer views of Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River system during northeasterly departures, which are more common. You'll see the water infrastructure and suburban sprawl expanding beneath you as you climb. Notable sights include: Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, Lake Huron (distant), suburban Detroit grid.

When landing at Hongqiao International (SHA), sit on the Right side for the best views. SHA's Hongqiao runway 3/21 (heading ~030°/210°) and runway 1/19 (heading ~010°/190°) mean most approaches come from the east or northeast over the Huangpu River and Pudong district. Right seats provide direct views of Shanghai's skyline, the Huangpu River bend, and the financial district as you descend into the airport on the city's western edge. Notable sights include: Huangpu River, Pudong financial district skyline, Suzhou Creek, Shanghai urban grid.

The flight from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to Hongqiao International (SHA) takes Approximately 13.5 to 14.5 hours.

The flight path crosses the North Pacific, passing north of the Aleutian Islands (visible only on clear days, typically as distant dark peaks on the horizon around 8-10 hours into flight). Crossing into Asian airspace, you'll overfly parts of Russia's Far East and eventually approach China from the northeast, with the East China Sea visible during descent. The Yangtze River delta becomes visible in the final 30 minutes—a complex network of waterways, agricultural land, and industrial zones south and east of Shanghai.