Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Taipei to Washington. The left side captures the dramatic Taiwanese mountain spine and Taipei basin on departure, which is the most visually striking moment of the flight. The transpacific cruise over the North Pacific offers little to see from either side regardless. At landing, the right side edges ahead, but the departure views from the left are more geographically spectacular overall.

During takeoff from Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE), sit on the Left side for the best views. Taoyuan Airport typically departs northeastward on runway 05/06, putting the left side facing northwest toward the central mountain spine of Taiwan and Taipei basin. You get a clear view of the Taipei metropolitan area and the northern ranges as the aircraft climbs and turns toward its transpacific heading. Notable sights include: Taipei Basin and city grid, Yangmingshan volcanic massif to the north, Central Mountain Range spine running south, Tamsui River estuary meeting the Taiwan Strait.

When landing at Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Dulles typically receives transpacific arrivals from the west or northwest, with aircraft often landing on runway 01R/19L or 01C, approaching from the west. A right-side seat faces south and east, giving views over the Virginia piedmont, the Potomac River, and the broader Washington DC metro area as you descend through the approach corridor. Notable sights include: Potomac River winding toward DC, Blue Ridge Mountains to the west on the horizon, Dulles Access Road corridor below, Northern Virginia suburban sprawl of Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

The flight from Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE) to Washington Dulles International (IAD) takes Approximately 15 to 16 hours nonstop.

The great circle route arcs northeast over the East China Sea, passes south of Japan's Ryukyu Islands, crosses the North Pacific at roughly 50-55 degrees north latitude passing south of the Aleutian Islands chain, then descends over the Gulf of Alaska and crosses the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia and Alberta before entering US airspace over the northern Great Plains, continuing over the Midwest and Appalachian Mountains into Virginia