Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Frankfurt to Shanghai. The left side wins overall. The Frankfurt departure view of the Main River and city skyline is the stronger of the two takeoff/landing moments, and crucially, the left side also faces south during the long cruise over Central Asia — giving views of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau as the route passes north of them. On a clear day, the left side may catch distant glimpses of the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges as distant white ridgelines on the southern horizon.

During takeoff from Frankfurt Main (FRA), sit on the Left side for the best views. Frankfurt typically departs eastbound on runway 07L/07R, so the left (north) side gives you a view back over the Main River valley and Frankfurt's skyline as you climb out. The right side faces south toward flat Rhine-Main plain with little of interest. Notable sights include: Frankfurt city skyline and Bankenviertel towers, Main River bending through the city, Taunus hills to the northwest, Rhine River confluence near Mainz.

When landing at Hongqiao International (SHA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Hongqiao typically lands from the east on runway 18R/36L or approaches from the east, meaning a westward approach over the city. The right (north) side gives views over central Shanghai, the Huangpu River, and Pudong's skyline before touchdown. The left side faces south toward suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Huangpu River S-curve through central Shanghai, Pudong skyline including Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower, Suzhou Creek confluence, dense urban grid of Jing'an and Putuo districts.

The flight from Frankfurt Main (FRA) to Hongqiao International (SHA) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours.

The route tracks roughly east-northeast from Frankfurt, crossing southern Poland and Ukraine, then over the Black Sea region or southern Russia depending on current routing. It then passes over Kazakhstan and the vast flat steppe, before crossing into western China over Xinjiang. The Tian Shan range is visible below or to the south. The route then crosses the Gobi Desert and descends over eastern China's North China Plain toward Shanghai. The Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas remain to the south throughout the Central Asian segment, visible as a distant white wall on clear days from the left side.