Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Beijing to Los Angeles. While left side wins at departure for Beijing city views, the right side delivers superior scenery for the majority of the flight: views of the Korean Peninsula and Japanese archipelago during the early transpacific segment, and the spectacular Los Angeles Basin approach at arrival. The LAX arrival on the right is one of the most visually rewarding urban approaches in the world.

During takeoff from Capital (PEK), sit on the Left side for the best views. PEK's primary departure runway is 01/19, with northbound departures (Runway 01) turning the aircraft eastward. A left-side seat gives views over central Beijing including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the dense urban grid of the city center as you climb out. Right side faces toward the airport's industrial northern suburbs with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Kunming Lake to the northwest, the urban grid of central Beijing's ring roads, Yanshan foothills to the west.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX's primary arrival configuration uses runways 24L/24R, meaning aircraft approach from the east over Los Angeles Basin. A right-side seat on this westbound approach gives a prolonged view of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Hollywood Hills, downtown LA's skyline, and the full sweep of Santa Monica Bay as you descend. Left side faces south toward less distinctive suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Downtown Los Angeles skyline, Santa Monica Bay and Pacific coastline, Hollywood Hills and Griffith Observatory area, Santa Monica Mountains ridge.

The flight from Capital (PEK) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The route tracks northeast over the Korean Peninsula and the Sea of Japan, then crosses the Aleutian Island chain or passes near the Kamchatka Peninsula depending on routing. The bulk of the flight crosses the North Pacific Ocean at high latitudes, often above 50°N, where the Aleutian Islands may be visible on clear days. As the flight descends toward California, the Sierra Nevada range appears to the south, and the Central Valley of California is visible before the final approach over the Los Angeles Basin.