London to Beijing flight path: STN to PEK

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Beijing. The left (north-facing) side captures more geographic variety across the flight — North Sea coastline near departure, the arc over Scandinavia and Russia's taiga and Ural foothills during cruise, and the Yanshan mountains and Great Wall on arrival — while the right side stays over less distinctive continental steppe and flat farmland for most of the route.

During takeoff from Stansted (STN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Climbing out of Stansted and turning onto the northeasterly track toward Scandinavia, the left side faces north over East Anglia's patchwork farmland toward the North Sea coast, while the right side mostly shows the flatter Essex/Suffolk countryside with less contrast. Notable sights include: North Sea coastline, Essex/Suffolk farmland mosaic, River Stour estuary.

When landing at Capital (PEK), sit on the Left side for the best views. On approach into Beijing from the north/northwest, the left side reveals the rugged Yanshan mountain foothills and stretches of the Great Wall before the plane descends over the flat North China Plain into the capital, giving a dramatic contrast the flatter southern approach lacks. Notable sights include: Yanshan Mountains, sections of the Great Wall, North China Plain farmland, Beijing's outer suburbs.

The flight from Stansted (STN) to Capital (PEK) takes about 9 hours 45 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,025 miles (8,088 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Baltic Sea coastline near Scandinavia, the Ural Mountains marking the Europe-Asia boundary, vast Siberian taiga and river systems, and the Mongolian steppe leading into the Gobi Desert before reaching northern China.