Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Shanghai to Paris. The left side wins overall because the Paris approach delivers a sustained, genuinely spectacular view of one of the world's most recognizable cities laid out below. The Shanghai departure on the right is excellent but brief. For the long overland cruise across Central Asia and Europe, neither side has a decisive advantage, but the left side catches the southern Siberian terrain and the Caspian Sea region slightly better on the typical polar-adjacent routing.

During takeoff from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. PVG typically departs westward on runway 34L/16R or eastward on 35L. For westbound departures toward Europe, the aircraft turns northwest, putting the right side facing Shanghai city center and the Huangpu River. You get a clear view of Pudong's skyline, the distinctive curve of the Bund waterfront, and the sprawling urban grid of central Shanghai. Notable sights include: Pudong skyline (Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower), the Huangpu River S-bend through central Shanghai, Suzhou Creek confluence, and the flat agricultural patchwork of Jiangsu province to the northwest.

When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Left side for the best views. CDG typically lands from the east on runways 26L/26R or from the northeast on 27L/27R, meaning the aircraft approaches from the east-northeast over the Paris basin. The left side faces south toward central Paris, giving a clear view of the Seine river bends, the Eiffel Tower area, and the dense Haussmann urban grid. The right side faces north over flat agricultural Picardy with little of interest. 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.

The flight from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The route typically tracks northwest over eastern China and Mongolia, then across southern Siberia and the Kazakh steppe — vast flat grasslands and river systems including the Ob and Irtysh drainages. The Ural Mountains crossing is subtle, a low broad ridge rather than dramatic peaks. Over Russia and into Eastern Europe, the terrain is flat agricultural land and boreal forest. The route descends over Germany and the Rhine valley before entering French airspace.