San Francisco to Beijing is 5,899 miles (9,494 km), a flight of about 13 hours 5 minutes.
The right side wins on both ends: San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge at departure, plus mountainous terrain and Great Wall country on descent into Beijing. The left side is dominated by miles of open Pacific and Siberian/Mongolian flatlands with little visual variety.
Flight Path
The flight's midpoint falls over the North Pacific near the Aleutian Islands and Kamchatka Peninsula, where volcanic peaks and the Bering Sea coastline are the dominant features before the route continues over the Sea of Okhotsk and into Russian Far East airspace.
Great circle distance and headings ›
Phase by phase
Takeoff from SFO
RIGHTDepartures off SFO's runway 28 turn right to join the northbound track up the coast, putting San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands squarely on the right side as the aircraft climbs. The left side only shows open Pacific Ocean.
Landing at PEK
RIGHTOn the descent into Beijing from the north, the approach path crosses the Yan Mountains, where visible ridgelines and Great Wall segments near Huairou can be seen before the terrain flattens into the North China Plain. This side offers the last real terrain drama before landing, while the left side shows only flat farmland.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from San Francisco International (SFO) to Capital (PEK)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Beijing. The right side wins on both ends: San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge at departure, plus mountainous terrain and Great Wall country on descent into Beijing. The left side is dominated by miles of open Pacific and Siberian/Mongolian flatlands with little visual variety.
What can I see during takeoff from San Francisco International in San Francisco?
During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departures off SFO's runway 28 turn right to join the northbound track up the coast, putting San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands squarely on the right side as the aircraft climbs. The left side only shows open Pacific Ocean. Notable sights include: San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, Point Reyes peninsula.
What can I see when landing at Capital in Beijing?
When landing at Capital (PEK), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the descent into Beijing from the north, the approach path crosses the Yan Mountains, where visible ridgelines and Great Wall segments near Huairou can be seen before the terrain flattens into the North China Plain. This side offers the last real terrain drama before landing, while the left side shows only flat farmland. Notable sights include: Yan Mountains, Great Wall segments near Huairou/Badaling, North China Plain, Beijing suburban sprawl.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Beijing?
The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Capital (PEK) takes about 13 hours 5 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,899 miles (9,494 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the San Francisco to Beijing flight path pass over?
The flight's midpoint falls over the North Pacific near the Aleutian Islands and Kamchatka Peninsula, where volcanic peaks and the Bering Sea coastline are the dominant features before the route continues over the Sea of Okhotsk and into Russian Far East airspace.