The right side offers the only real scenic payoffs of the flight: a glimpse of Lake Michigan and Chicago during climb-out, and a view of Shanghai's skyline and river delta during the final descent, while the left side stays mostly featureless farmland and coastal marsh.
Flight Path
Hudson Bay coastline, Canadian tundra of Nunavut, Siberian taiga near Yakutia, Mongolian steppe and the northern fringe of the Gobi Desert before descending over the North China Plain
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from ORD
RIGHTWestbound-favored departures out of ORD typically turn north toward the polar route, and that turn briefly opens up a view of Lake Michigan's shoreline and Chicago's northern suburbs on the right side before the aircraft continues over flat farmland into Wisconsin and Canada. The left side mostly shows featureless grid-pattern farmland with no major landmarks.
Landing at PVG
RIGHTArriving from the north, flights into PVG often land on the south-facing runways, meaning the final approach path puts Shanghai's dense urban sprawl and the Huangpu River delta on the right side, while the left side shows mostly open water and marshland along the Yangtze estuary. The right side offers a much more visually engaging cityscape during descent.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Shanghai. The right side offers the only real scenic payoffs of the flight: a glimpse of Lake Michigan and Chicago during climb-out, and a view of Shanghai's skyline and river delta during the final descent, while the left side stays mostly featureless farmland and coastal marsh.
What can I see during takeoff from Chicago Ohare International in Chicago?
During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Westbound-favored departures out of ORD typically turn north toward the polar route, and that turn briefly opens up a view of Lake Michigan's shoreline and Chicago's northern suburbs on the right side before the aircraft continues over flat farmland into Wisconsin and Canada. The left side mostly shows featureless grid-pattern farmland with no major landmarks. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago skyline in the distance, O'Hare's surrounding suburban grid, Wisconsin farmland.
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. Arriving from the north, flights into PVG often land on the south-facing runways, meaning the final approach path puts Shanghai's dense urban sprawl and the Huangpu River delta on the right side, while the left side shows mostly open water and marshland along the Yangtze estuary. The right side offers a much more visually engaging cityscape during descent. Notable sights include: Huangpu River delta, Shanghai's Pudong skyline in the distance, Yangtze River estuary farmland, Chongming Island.
How long is the flight from Chicago to Shanghai?
The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) takes 14h 45m.
What does the Chicago to Shanghai flight path pass over?
Hudson Bay coastline, Canadian tundra of Nunavut, Siberian taiga near Yakutia, Mongolian steppe and the northern fringe of the Gobi Desert before descending over the North China Plain