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KMG → LHW
Which side of the plane to sit from Kunming Changshui International Airport (Kunming) to Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport (Lanzhou)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers spectacular views of the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, featuring snow-capped peaks and dramatic high-altitude landscapes.
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Kunming Cityscape
Aerial views of the 'Spring City' and the northern reaches of Dianchi Lake immediately after departure.
Hengduan Mountains
Rugged, parallel mountain ranges and deep canyons that mark the transition to the Tibetan Plateau.
Min Mountains
Visibility of snow-dusted peaks in the distance, including the high-altitude terrain near Jiuzhaigou.
Gannan Highlands
Lush alpine meadows and rolling hills typical of the southern Gansu Tibetan regions.
Yellow River Bend
The winding path of the Yellow River as it snakes through the arid landscape approaching Lanzhou.
Choose a morning flight to have the sun behind you when looking west toward the snow-capped mountains. The transition from the green Yunnan plateau to the brown Loess landscape is most striking in late autumn. Sit behind the wing for unobstructed views of the mountain ridges.
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Guizhou Karst
The distinctive cone-shaped hills and limestone formations of the Yunnan-Guizhou border.
Sichuan Basin
A vast, hazy patchwork of intensive agriculture and dense rural settlements.
Qinling Mountains
Crossing the massive natural boundary that separates northern and southern China.
Loess Plateau Terraces
Intricate, man-made agricultural terracing carved into the yellow silt hills of Gansu.
Afternoon flights provide the best lighting for the Loess Plateau's unique textures. Look for the sharp contrast in vegetation as the plane crosses the Qinling range, moving from humid green forests to the more arid northern climate. Keep an eye out for hidden valley villages in the Loess hills.
Book Hotels in LanzhouDistance: 1,271 km (790 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 42 min
Departure: KMG (25.101944399999997, 102.9291667)
Arrival: LHW (36.5152015686, 103.620002747)
Route Type: Domestic
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