Beijing to Los Angeles flight path: PEK to LAX

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Beijing to Los Angeles. The left side wins on both ends: mountainous terrain and Great Wall glimpses near Beijing at takeoff, and the San Gabriel Mountains plus LA's skyline-to-coastline transition on landing. The right side is comparatively flat plains near PEK and inland suburbs near LAX.

During takeoff from Capital (PEK), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing PEK, northbound climb-out gives left-side views over the mountains north and west of Beijing, including glimpses of the Yanshan range and sections of the Great Wall snaking over the ridgelines. Right side mostly shows Beijing's flat eastern suburbs and plains. Notable sights include: Yanshan mountains, Great Wall segments near Badaling/Huairou, Beijing's northern suburbs, Miyun Reservoir.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Left side for the best views. On approach to LAX from the east, the left side offers views of the San Gabriel Mountains and the sprawling Los Angeles basin, followed by the Pacific coastline near El Segundo/Manhattan Beach as the plane turns for final approach. The right side shows mostly inland suburban grid with less topographic interest. Notable sights include: San Gabriel Mountains, downtown Los Angeles skyline, Pacific coastline, Santa Monica Bay.

The flight from Capital (PEK) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes 12h 55m.

Route crosses the Gobi-adjacent steppe of Inner Mongolia, then the vast North Pacific Ocean for many hours, with no land visible until the Aleutian-influenced approach toward the North American coast near Southern California.