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CMB → PEK
Which side of the plane to sit from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (Colombo) to Beijing Capital International Airport (Beijing)?
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.
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.
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.
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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