Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Beijing to Urumqi. While takeoff favors right, the landing approach provides superior views of the Tianshan Mountains and basin terrain that define this route. The descent phase offers more dramatic and sustained geographic features than the departure.

During takeoff from Capital (PEK), sit on the Right side for the best views. PEK typically departs north or northeast. Right-side seats offer views of the Ming Tombs and Yanqing District mountains as the aircraft climbs northwest toward Urumqi routing. Left side shows urban sprawl and less distinctive terrain. Notable sights include: Ming Tombs (north of PEK), Yanqing District mountains, Great Wall sections near Badaling, Guanting Reservoir.

When landing at Diwopu (URC), sit on the Left side for the best views. Approach to URC typically comes from the southeast. Left-side seats provide views of the Tianshan Mountains' northern foothills and the Junggar Basin terrain as descent begins. Right side faces away from the dramatic topography. Notable sights include: Tianshan Mountains (northern range), Junggar Basin, Urumqi urban area, Diwopu airfield surroundings.

The flight from Capital (PEK) to Diwopu (URC) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes.

The flight path crosses the Yanqing Mountains, then transitions over the Hebei-Shanxi plateau. Around midpoint near Datong, the terrain becomes increasingly arid. The aircraft then crosses into Inner Mongolia's Gobi regions before reaching the Junggar Basin. The Yinshan Mountains appear as a low ridge system in the central portion of the route. As the flight progresses westward, vegetation decreases dramatically and the landscape becomes predominantly desert and steppe. The final approach phase reveals the Tianshan Mountains' northern escarpment rising abruptly from the basin floor.