Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Beijing. The left side wins both departure and arrival, making it the clear choice for the full journey. You get San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate on the way out, and Beijing's urban sprawl on approach. Over the Pacific the difference is minimal, but the bookend views strongly favor the left.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO departures heading northwest on runways 28L/28R give the left side a direct view over San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The right side faces south toward the peninsula with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline (Financial District towers), Alcatraz Island.

When landing at Capital (PEK), sit on the Left side for the best views. PEK arrivals from the south on runway 01/36 approach from the south, putting the left side facing east toward central Beijing, Tiananmen Square area, and the urban grid of the city center. The right side looks west toward the less-developed outskirts and mountains. Notable sights include: Beijing urban grid and city center, Olympic Green (Bird's Nest stadium visible at low altitude), Yanshan Mountains to the northwest on the horizon, Chaobai River floodplain.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Capital (PEK) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The great circle route from SFO to PEK arcs far north over the Pacific, crossing the Aleutian Island chain (Alaska), then tracking across the Kamchatka Peninsula with its volcanic peaks, the Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin Island, northeastern Manchuria, and finally descending across the North China Plain toward Beijing. The Aleutians and Kamchatka volcanoes are the most visually dramatic features if overflown in daylight.