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CMB destination photo
PEK destination photo

CMBPEK

Our Recommendation
8.5

Left Side of the Plane

The left side offers a front-row seat to the dramatic transition from the tropical Indian Ocean to the rugged peaks of the Eastern Himalayas and the high-altitude terrain of Western China.

Left Side Highlights
8.5
🌊

Sri Lankan Coastline

Aerial views of the turquoise waters and golden sands along the Negombo and Colombo coastline shortly after takeoff.

🏔️

Himalayan Foothills

Spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks near the Myanmar and Yunnan border as the flight enters Chinese airspace.

🏞️

Three Parallel Rivers

Deep gorges where the Yangtze, Mekong, and Salween rivers flow closely together through Yunnan's high-altitude terrain.

⛰️

Qinling Mountains

The massive mountain range that serves as the natural boundary between North and South China, often featuring dramatic cloud formations.

🏙️

Taihang Mountains

Rugged, tiered mountain scenery as the flight descends towards the North China Plain near Beijing.

Request a window seat on the left for daylight flights departing Colombo in the morning. This side avoids the direct glare of the afternoon sun over China and provides the best perspective of the high-altitude mountain ranges in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Keep an eye out about 4-5 hours into the flight for the most dramatic mountain scenery.

Right Side Highlights
7.2
🏝️

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Depending on the specific airway, you may see the remote, forested archipelagos of the Bay of Bengal.

🌴

Irrawaddy Delta

The intricate network of river branches and lush green agriculture as the flight crosses into Myanmar.

🌊

Yangtze River Bend

Glimpses of the massive Yangtze River as it winds through the central plains of China.

🏘️

Central Chinese Megacities

Dense urban clusters and massive infrastructure projects across Hunan and Henan provinces.

🚢

Bohai Bay Approach

If the flight approaches Beijing from the southeast, you may catch a glimpse of the industrial port regions near Tianjin.

The right side is ideal for capturing the vastness of the Chinese interior and its massive river systems. If your flight is an overnight journey arriving in the early morning, the right side will provide a beautiful sunrise over the East China Sea or the Yellow Sea during the final descent. Be aware that haze over central China can sometimes obscure ground details on this side.

Top Activities in Beijing
Route Information

Distance: 5,164 km (3,209 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 6 hrs 5 min

Departure: CMB (7.180759906768799, 79.88410186767578)

Arrival: PEK (40.0801010131836, 116.58499908447266)

Route Type: International

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