About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) to Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Shanghai to Helsinki. Right-side seats capture the most visually distinctive features: the Yangtze estuary and Shanghai's urban landscape during takeoff, then the vast Siberian landscape, Lake Baikal, and the Ural Mountains during the long cruise phase. Left-side seats offer good landing views but miss the dramatic midpoint geography.
What can I see during takeoff from Shanghai Pudong International in Shanghai?
During takeoff from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats offer views of the Yangtze River estuary and Shanghai's urban sprawl as the aircraft climbs northwestward. The river's massive delta and the contrast between developed areas and water create distinctive visual landmarks during the initial climb. Notable sights include: Yangtze River estuary, Shanghai urban districts (Pudong and Puxi), East China Sea coastline, Hangzhou Bay to the south.
What can I see when landing at Helsinki Vantaa in Helsinki?
When landing at Helsinki Vantaa (HEL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats provide excellent views during the descent approach into Helsinki. The aircraft typically descends over the Gulf of Finland, and left-side passengers see the Finnish archipelago, numerous islands, and the transition from open water to the Helsinki metropolitan area and Vantaa airport. Notable sights include: Gulf of Finland, Finnish archipelago (thousands of small islands), Lake Tuusula, Helsinki city center and harbor.
How long is the flight from Shanghai to Helsinki?
The flight from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) to Helsinki Vantaa (HEL) takes Approximately 10 hours 30 minutes to 11 hours.
What does the Shanghai to Helsinki flight path pass over?
Lake Baikal (world's deepest freshwater lake, visible as a massive crescent-shaped body of water in southern Siberia around 3-4 hours into flight), the Ural Mountains (marking the boundary between Europe and Asia, appearing as a north-south trending ridge system), the West Siberian Plain (vast, relatively featureless terrain with scattered lakes and rivers), and the transition into European Russia with its more varied topography and river systems (Volga, Kama) visible during the final 2-3 hours before descent into Finland.