Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Shanghai to Detroit. While takeoff favors the right, the landing approach over the Great Lakes system is more visually distinctive and geographically significant. Left-side seats capture the dramatic water features that define the Detroit arrival, making it the better choice for the overall journey.

During takeoff from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Huangpu River winding through Pudong's skyline during the initial climb, with the distinctive Oriental Pearl Tower visible against the urban grid. The westbound departure routing over the city provides better views than eastbound departures over water. Notable sights include: Huangpu River (sharp meanders through central Shanghai), Oriental Pearl Tower (distinctive sphere structure in Lujiazui), Pudong financial district (dense high-rise cluster), Yangtze River estuary (broad water body to the north).

When landing at Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats offer views of the Great Lakes region during descent into Detroit. Depending on the landing runway (typically 03L/03R or 09L/09R), westbound approaches provide clear sightings of Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River system. The water bodies and shoreline geometry are distinctive at 8,000-15,000 feet. Notable sights include: Lake St. Clair (large inland lake with visible shoreline), Detroit River (narrow water channel separating USA and Canada), Lake Erie (broader water body to the south), Windsor, Ontario shoreline (Canadian side, visible across the river).

The flight from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) to Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) takes Approximately 13.5-14.5 hours.

The flight path crosses the North Pacific, passing north of the Aleutian Islands (visible only on polar routes at extreme northern latitudes—this route typically tracks south of them). Over North America, the route crosses the Canadian Arctic Archipelago or northern Canada depending on seasonal winds, then descends across the Great Lakes region. Notable geographic features include the Rocky Mountains (visible during descent into North America, typically on the left/north side of the flight path), and the Great Lakes system (visible during final approach to Detroit). The Bering Strait and Alaska are generally too far north for this routing. The midpoint over the Pacific offers minimal distinctive landmarks—primarily open ocean with occasional cloud formations.