KHG → XIY

Tianshan Range

Vast views of the 'Celestial Mountains' with peaks exceeding 7,000 meters visible shortly after departure.

Hami Basin

The stark transition between high-altitude glaciers and the low-lying arid depressions of the eastern Tianshan.

Qilian Glaciers

High-altitude ice caps and rugged ridges that form the northern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau.

Hexi Corridor

Aerial views of historic Silk Road oasis cities like Zhangye and Jinchang nestled between mountains and desert.

Loess Plateau Terraces

The intricate, labyrinthine patterns of the yellow earth plateau as the flight descends toward Shaanxi province.

Taklamakan Desert

The 'Sea of Death' reveals its massive shifting sand dunes and ancient dry riverbeds early in the flight.

Kunlun Mountains

The distant, formidable wall of the Kunlun range marks the southern horizon across the Tarim Basin.

Qaidam Basin

Views of the desolate, salt-encrusted plains of the northern Tibetan Plateau if the flight path tracks south.

Qinghai Lake

If the airway dips south, the deep sapphire blue of China's largest inland lake becomes a primary landmark.

Wei River Valley

The transition from dry highlands to the fertile, densely populated cradle of Chinese civilization near Xi'an.