About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Manchester (MAN) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Manchester to Shanghai. Left seats offer the most consistent visual interest: UK departure views of the Pennines and industrial heartland, then the entire flight path across Europe and Central Asia with occasional glimpses of major mountain ranges (Alps, Caucasus, Himalayas on clear days), and finally the approach to Shanghai's river system. Right seats have a strong landing advantage but left dominates the 11+ hour journey.
What can I see during takeoff from Manchester in Manchester?
During takeoff from Manchester (MAN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Manchester typically departs runways 05L/05R or 23L/23R. Left seats on westbound departures (runway 23) offer views of the Pennines and the industrial landscape of Greater Manchester spreading southeast. On eastbound departures (runway 05), left seats still capture the moorlands and reservoirs north of the airport. Notable sights include: Pennine Hills (southeast, rising gradually), Rossendale Valley (east), Manchester Ship Canal corridor (south), Cheshire Plain (southwest).
What can I see when landing at Shanghai Pudong International in Shanghai?
When landing at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. Approaching Shanghai Pudong on typical eastbound arrivals (runways 07L/07R or 25L/25R), right seats provide superior views of the Huangpu River's dramatic bend, the Pudong skyline, and the Yangtze River estuary. The Bund district and Puxi waterfront are also visible on the right during descent. Notable sights include: Huangpu River (prominent serpentine waterway), Pudong financial district skyline (Oriental Pearl Tower, Lujiazui towers), Yangtze River estuary (north), Hangzhou Bay (south, visible on clearer days).
How long is the flight from Manchester to Shanghai?
The flight from Manchester (MAN) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) takes Approximately 11 hours 45 minutes to 12 hours 30 minutes.
What does the Manchester to Shanghai flight path pass over?
The flight path crosses the Alps (visible as a white ridge on clear days, typically 2-3 hours into flight), the Carpathian Mountains, the Black Sea region, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Tian Shan range (on southern routing), and the Himalayas (on northern routing via Central Asia). The Taklamakan Desert appears as a tan expanse in western China. The Yangtze River valley becomes visible in the final 90 minutes of descent into Shanghai.