London to Shanghai flight path: LHR to PVG

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Shanghai. The right side keeps the more varied and dramatic terrain throughout: London's skyline at departure, the Ural Mountains and Altai range plus the Gobi Desert's edge during cruise, and the Yangtze Delta and Hangzhou Bay coastline on arrival. The left side is dominated by flat Siberian taiga and open North Sea, with little to distinguish it for most of the 11-hour flight.

During takeoff from Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Heathrow's typical westerly departure requires a right-hand turn to join the eastbound track toward Europe, and that turn swings central London into view on the right side. The left side mostly shows the flat farmland of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire receding with little else to see. Notable sights include: River Thames through London, Canary Wharf and City skyline, Windsor Castle just after liftoff, North Sea coast of East Anglia.

When landing at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. Arrivals into Pudong from the northwest continue curving right to align with the north-south runways, keeping the right side toward the Yangtze Delta wetlands and Hangzhou Bay coastline during the final turn. The left side faces inland toward flat, featureless farmland with no coastal or urban interest. Notable sights include: Yangtze River Delta wetlands, Hangzhou Bay shoreline, patchwork rice paddies and fish ponds, distant Pudong skyline haze.

The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) takes 11h 35m.

Ural Mountains, West Siberian Plain and taiga, Altai Mountains along the Mongolia-China border, and the southern fringe of the Gobi Desert