Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Milan to Shanghai. The takeoff view of the Alps is more visually dramatic and geographically distinctive than the landing approach. While Shanghai's river and skyline are impressive, the Alpine wall during climb-out offers a more memorable contrast and clearer geographic definition.

During takeoff from Linate (LIN), sit on the Right side for the best views. Linate typically departs eastbound (runways 05/23, with 05 favored for eastbound traffic). Right-side seats capture the Alps rising dramatically to the north and east as you climb out over the Lombardy plain. The contrast between flat agricultural land and the mountain wall is striking. Notable sights include: Alps (north/northeast, snow-capped peaks on horizon), Lake Como (visible to the northeast as a long narrow water body), Po River valley (broad flat expanse below), Milan city grid (receding southwest).

When landing at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Left side for the best views. PVG has two parallel runways (08L/26R and 08R/26L); arrivals typically use 08 from the west. Left-side seats on descent offer views of the Huangpu River's dramatic bend through Shanghai's Pudong district, with the Oriental Pearl Tower and Lujiazui skyline visible. The river's serpentine path and the contrast between water and urban density is visually distinctive. Notable sights include: Huangpu River (winding through Pudong, visible as a brown/gray ribbon), Lujiazui financial district (dense high-rise cluster on east bank), Yangtze River estuary (broader waterway to the north, muddy-colored), East China Sea coastline (flat, receding to horizon).

The flight from Linate (LIN) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) takes Approximately 11 hours 15 minutes (non-stop, typical cruise time with prevailing winds).

Over Central Asia, the flight passes north of the Pamir Mountains and Hindu Kush (visible from cruise altitude as distant ridges if flying the southern routing), crosses the Taklamakan Desert (vast tan expanse with minimal features), and approaches China over the Tian Shan mountains. The Caspian Sea is visible on westbound routing. Over western China, the Gobi Desert dominates the landscape. As you approach Shanghai, the North China Plain transitions to the Yangtze River delta's flat, densely populated terrain with extensive agricultural patchwork and waterways.