Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Shanghai to Amsterdam. The right side delivers the most dramatic single moment of the flight — the Lujiazui skyline during departure — which is one of the most visually striking urban views available from any commercial flight. The Amsterdam approach on the left is pleasant but relatively subtle. Right side wins overall for the Shanghai departure alone.

During takeoff from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. PVG typically departs eastward on runway 16R/34L or uses runways oriented roughly north-south. On a northwestbound departure toward Europe, the aircraft turns left after takeoff, putting the right side facing south over the Huangpu River delta and central Shanghai's Pudong skyline. The distinctive cluster of supertalls in Lujiazui — including the Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center, and Jin Mao Tower — is clearly visible from the right side during the climbing turn. Notable sights include: Lujiazui skyline (Shanghai Tower, SWFC, Jin Mao), Huangpu River bends through central Shanghai, Yangtze River mouth and its wide brown delta, Chongming Island to the north.

When landing at Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Schiphol's most common landing runways for long-haul arrivals from the east are the Polderbaan (18R) or Aalsmeerbaan (18L), meaning the aircraft approaches from the north heading south. On this approach, the left side faces east toward Amsterdam city center, the IJ waterway, and the distinctive ring of historic canal districts. The right side faces west over flat polder farmland with little of interest. Notable sights include: Amsterdam city center canal ring and IJ waterway, Amstel River threading south through the city, Westpoort industrial harbor district, flat green polder farmland of North Holland.

The flight from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) to Schiphol (AMS) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The route tracks northwest over eastern China, crossing the Gobi Desert and Mongolian steppe, then over Siberia's vast taiga and river systems including the Ob and Yenisei rivers. It crosses the Ural Mountains (a low, broad ridge visible as a subtle topographic change in the otherwise flat terrain), then enters European Russia and the Baltic states before descending over the North Sea toward the Netherlands. The Siberian leg offers extraordinary views of untouched boreal forest and frozen river deltas in winter, or vast wetlands in summer, though largely featureless at altitude.