Left wins at takeoff for Beijing city views, but right side delivers consistently better scenery across the full flight: the Mongolian steppe and Gobi transition, the Kazakh steppes, and crucially the Paris arrival which is the visual highlight of the journey. Right seat passengers also get better views of the Ural Mountains crossing and the Rhine valley in Germany during descent.
Flown PEK to CDG? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Beijing to Paris is 5,089 miles (8,190 km), a flight of about 10 hours 30 minutes.
The route tracks northwest from Beijing across the Mongolian Plateau and southern Gobi Desert, then crosses Kazakhstan's flat steppe. Over Russia the southern Ural Mountains are visible as a low broad ridge. The flight then crosses Ukraine and Poland before entering Germany, where the Rhine valley and its tributaries are visible on descent. The Alps may be visible as a distant white wall to the south depending on exact routing.
Great circle distance and headings ›
.jpg?width=600)
Phase by phase
Takeoff from PEK
LEFTPEK's primary departure runway 01/19 means northbound departures swing left (west) over the city. The left side gives you a clear view of central Beijing including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City moat, and the dense urban grid before the aircraft tracks northwest. Right side gets industrial eastern suburbs.
Landing at CDG
RIGHTCDG's primary landing approach on runways 26L/26R comes in from the east, meaning the aircraft tracks westward on final. The right side (north) gives you the best view of Paris — you can see the Seine river bends, the Eiffel Tower area, and the dense Haussmann boulevards before touchdown. Left side faces south toward less distinctive suburbs.
Will your flight be in sunlight?
Pick a date and time in the Sun Map to watch the sun move across your whole flight.
About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Capital (PEK) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Beijing to Paris. Left wins at takeoff for Beijing city views, but right side delivers consistently better scenery across the full flight: the Mongolian steppe and Gobi transition, the Kazakh steppes, and crucially the Paris arrival which is the visual highlight of the journey. Right seat passengers also get better views of the Ural Mountains crossing and the Rhine valley in Germany during descent.
What can I see during takeoff from Capital in Beijing?
During takeoff from Capital (PEK), sit on the Left side for the best views. PEK's primary departure runway 01/19 means northbound departures swing left (west) over the city. The left side gives you a clear view of central Beijing including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City moat, and the dense urban grid before the aircraft tracks northwest. Right side gets industrial eastern suburbs. Notable sights include: Forbidden City and its moat rectangle, Summer Palace reservoir to the northwest, Beijing's ring road system visible as concentric arcs, Yanshan foothills rising to the northwest.
What can I see when landing at Charles De Gaulle in Paris?
When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Right side for the best views. CDG's primary landing approach on runways 26L/26R comes in from the east, meaning the aircraft tracks westward on final. The right side (north) gives you the best view of Paris — you can see the Seine river bends, the Eiffel Tower area, and the dense Haussmann boulevards before touchdown. Left side faces south toward less distinctive suburbs. Notable sights include: Seine river bends through central Paris, Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars, La Défense business district tower cluster to the west, Bois de Boulogne forest patch.
How long is the flight from Beijing to Paris?
The flight from Capital (PEK) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes about 10 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,089 miles (8,190 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Beijing to Paris flight path pass over?
The route tracks northwest from Beijing across the Mongolian Plateau and southern Gobi Desert, then crosses Kazakhstan's flat steppe. Over Russia the southern Ural Mountains are visible as a low broad ridge. The flight then crosses Ukraine and Poland before entering Germany, where the Rhine valley and its tributaries are visible on descent. The Alps may be visible as a distant white wall to the south depending on exact routing.