Photo: Severin.stalder · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
While the myth of seeing the Great Wall from space is just that — a myth — sections near Beijing are visible from low altitude on approaches to Beijing Capital Airport. The wall snakes dramatically across mountain ridges.
238Flight Routes
1 kmClosest Pass
🧱 MonumentType
Routes that pass it238
HKG → PKX
Both Sides
PKX → HKG
Both Sides
DPS → PEK
Both Sides
HKG → JFK
Both Sides
JFK → HKG
Both Sides
PEK → DPS
Both Sides
HKG → LGA
Both Sides
LGA → HKG
Both Sides
CAN → PKX
Both Sides
PKX → CAN
Both Sides
MNL → PEK
Both Sides
PEK → MNL
Both Sides
HKG → PEK
Both Sides
JFK → PEK
Both Sides
PEK → HKG
Both Sides
PEK → JFK
Both Sides
PEK → SZX
Both Sides
SZX → PEK
Both Sides
CAN → PEK
Both Sides
NKG → PEK
Both Sides
PEK → CAN
Both Sides
PEK → NKG
Both Sides
BWN → PKX
Both Sides
IAD → PEK
Both Sides
PEK → IAD
Both Sides
PKX → BWN
Both Sides
CGK → PEK
Left
HLP → PEK
Left
ICN → TAS
Right
PEK → CGK
Right
PEK → HLP
Right
PEK → TPE
Left
PEK → TSA
Left
TAS → ICN
Left
TPE → PEK
Right
TSA → PEK
Right
CSX → PEK
Left
PEK → CSX
Right
ALA → ICN
Right
CSX → PKX
Left
HAK → PEK
Left
ICN → ALA
Left
PEK → HAK
Right
PKX → CSX
Right
EWR → HKG
Right
HKG → EWR
Left
MEL → PEK
Right
NGB → PEK
Right
PEK → MEL
Left
PEK → NGB
Left
PEK → SGN
Right
PEK → SIN
Right
PEK → XSP
Right
SGN → PEK
Left
SIN → PEK
Left
XSP → PEK
Left
PEK → SHA
Left
SHA → PEK
Right
HRB → XIY
Right
KUL → PEK
Left
PEK → KUL
Right
PEK → PVG
Left
PVG → PEK
Right
XIY → HRB
Left
PEK → SYD
Left
SYD → PEK
Right
DUB → PEK
Left
DYG → PEK
Left
EDI → PEK
Left
IKT → PEK
Left
PEK → DUB
Right
PEK → DYG
Right
PEK → EDI
Right
PEK → IKT
Right
HAN → PEK
Left
MAN → PEK
Left
OSL → PEK
Left
PEK → HAN
Right
PEK → MAN
Right
PEK → OSL
Right
ARN → PEK
Left
BKK → PEK
Left
HKT → PEK
Left
LCY → PEK
Left
LGW → PEK
Left
LHR → PEK
Left
PEK → ARN
Right
PEK → BKK
Right
PEK → HKT
Right
PEK → LCY
Right
PEK → LGW
Right
PEK → LHR
Right
PEK → STN
Right
PKX → SIN
Right
SIN → PKX
Left
STN → PEK
Left
AMS → PEK
Left
BRU → PEK
Left
CPH → PEK
Left
EZE → PEK
Left
LED → PEK
Left
PEK → AMS
Right
PEK → BRU
Right
PEK → CPH
Right
PEK → EZE
Right
PEK → LED
Right
PKX → XSP
Right
XSP → PKX
Left
CDG → PEK
Left
LIS → PEK
Left
MEX → PEK
Right
PEK → CDG
Right
PEK → LIS
Right
PEK → MEX
Left
PEK → UBN
Right
PEK → YVR
Left
UBN → PEK
Left
YVR → PEK
Right
BER → PEK
Left
FRA → PEK
Left
MAD → PEK
Left
PEK → BER
Right
PEK → FRA
Right
PEK → MAD
Right
PEK → PHX
Left
PHX → PEK
Right
BCN → PEK
Left
GVA → PEK
Left
MUC → PEK
Left
PEK → BCN
Right
PEK → MUC
Right
PEK → PRG
Right
PEK → SVO
Right
PEK → WAW
Right
PEK → WHK
Left
PRG → PEK
Left
SVO → PEK
Left
WAW → PEK
Left
WHK → PEK
Right
CKG → PEK
Left
DME → PEK
Left
KMG → PEK
Left
LAX → PEK
Right
PEK → CKG
Right
PEK → DME
Right
PEK → KMG
Right
PEK → LAX
Left
PEK → SFO
Left
PEK → VIE
Right
SFO → PEK
Right
VIE → PEK
Left
CJU → PEK
Right
CTU → PEK
Left
DOH → NRT
Left
NRT → DOH
Right
PEK → CJU
Left
PEK → CTU
Right
PEK → XIY
Right
XIY → PEK
Left
IST → PEK
Left
PEK → IST
Right
ATH → PEK
Left
PEK → ATH
Right
PKX → DYG
Right
ALA → PEK
Left
CAI → PEK
Left
LZY → PEK
Left
PEK → ALA
Right
PEK → CAI
Right
PEK → LZY
Right
PEK → PUS
Left
PEK → URC
Right
PUS → PEK
Right
URC → PEK
Left
FRU → PEK
Left
ICN → PEK
Right
LXA → PEK
Left
PEK → FRU
Right
PEK → ICN
Left
PEK → LXA
Right
PEK → TAS
Right
PEK → VVO
Left
TAS → PEK
Left
VVO → PEK
Right
CTS → PEK
Right
GMP → PEK
Right
HNL → PEK
Right
ITM → PEK
Right
KIX → PEK
Right
MEB → SHA
Left
PEK → CTS
Left
PEK → GMP
Left
PEK → HNL
Left
PEK → ITM
Left
PEK → KIX
Left
PEK → SSN
Left
SHA → MEB
Right
SSN → PEK
Right
AUH → PEK
Left
DOH → PEK
Left
DXB → PEK
Left
FNJ → PEK
Right
HND → PEK
Right
NRT → PEK
Right
PEK → AUH
Right
PEK → DOH
Right
PEK → DXB
Right
PEK → FNJ
Left
PEK → HND
Left
PEK → NRT
Left
HET → ICN
Left
ICN → HET
Right
HGH → PKX
Right
PKX → HGH
Left
PVG → SYD
Left
SYD → PVG
Right
PKX → SHA
Left
SHA → PKX
Right
PKX → SFO
Left
PKX → SYD
Left
SFO → PKX
Right
SYD → PKX
Right
DOH → HND
Left
HND → DOH
Right
LHR → PKX
Left
PKX → LHR
Right
AMS → PKX
Left
PKX → AMS
Right
CTU → PKX
Left
PKX → CTU
Right
PKX → XIY
Right
XIY → PKX
Left
JFK → WUH
Left
MEB → PVG
Left
MEL → PVG
Left
PVG → MEB
Right
PVG → MEL
Right
WUH → JFK
Right
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Great Wall of China from a plane?
Yes — 238 flight routes pass within 80 km of Great Wall of China. The closest routes include Hong Kong to Beijing, Beijing to Hong Kong, Denpasar to Beijing. The landmark is visible from both sides, with the landmark passing about 1 km away.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Great Wall of China?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Great Wall of China: on a Hong Kong to Beijing flight, visible from both sides; on a Beijing to Hong Kong flight, visible from both sides; on a Denpasar to Beijing flight, visible from both sides.