Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Shenzhen to Shanghai. Right-side seats win overall because the departure view from Shenzhen is more dramatic and geographically distinctive (Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong views), while the landing into Shanghai is less visually compelling from either side due to urban density and haze. The outbound leg offers more memorable geography.

During takeoff from Baoan (SZX), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Pearl River Delta's urban sprawl and Shenzhen's coastal geography as you climb out. Baoan typically departs eastbound (runways 07L/07R), so the right side faces toward Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong across the water. Notable sights include: Pearl River estuary (wide, braided waterway directly below), Shenzhen urban grid (dense development), Hong Kong New Territories (visible across the water to the southeast), Lantau Island (mountainous island on the horizon).

When landing at Hongqiao International (SHA), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats offer views of the Yangtze River Delta and approach path into Hongqiao. Hongqiao typically uses runways 16L/16R (northwesterly approaches), so the left side faces toward Suzhou and the agricultural plains north of Shanghai as you descend. Notable sights include: Yangtze River (massive, braided river system), Suzhou Creek (narrower waterway threading through Shanghai), Shanghai urban core (high-rise district), Taihu Lake (large freshwater lake visible on the horizon to the northwest).

The flight from Baoan (SZX) to Hongqiao International (SHA) takes Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

The flight path crosses the Zhejiang Province coast and inland plains. Notable features include the Hangzhou Bay area (wide coastal indentation), Hangzhou city (visible from altitude as a large urban cluster around West Lake), and the transition from coastal Zhejiang into the Yangtze River Delta flatlands. The route generally follows a north-northwest heading, climbing to cruise altitude around 30,000 feet over the coastal regions before beginning descent into Shanghai airspace.