Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Guangzhou. The left side wins on both ends: London's river and skyline at departure, and the Pearl River Delta terrain plus Guangzhou's skyline on arrival. The long cruise over Russia and Central Asia is scenically neutral for both sides, so the takeoff/landing advantage decides it.

During takeoff from Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing Heathrow eastbound-turning-north, the left side gets London's skyline including the Thames, Canary Wharf, and the City before the route tracks over East Anglia. It's one of the more recognizable urban departures in Europe. Notable sights include: River Thames, Canary Wharf towers, City of London skyline, Thames Estuary.

When landing at Baiyun (CAN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Arriving into Guangzhou from the north, the left side offers views over the Pearl River Delta's hills and reservoirs before the dense urban sprawl of Guangzhou itself comes into view on approach. Notable sights include: Pearl River Delta waterways, Baiyun Mountain, Guangzhou skyline (Canton Tower), patchwork fish ponds and rice paddies.

The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to Baiyun (CAN) takes 11h 50m.

Route crosses Scandinavia or Eastern Europe, then Russia (Ural Mountains, Siberian taiga, Lake Baikal region depending on routing), Mongolia's steppe, and the Gobi Desert before descending into southern China.