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LJG → CGO
Which side of the plane to sit from Lijiang Airport (Lijiang) to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (Zhengzhou)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side is superior primarily for the breathtaking departure from Lijiang, offering a direct view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the dramatic transition from the Hengduan Mountains to the Qinling range.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Visible almost immediately after takeoff, these glacier-capped peaks are the crown jewel of the Yunnan landscape.
Jinsha River Canyons
Dramatic views of the upper Yangtze River snaking through deep limestone gorges in Northern Yunnan.
Minshan & Qinling Ranges
A massive sea of peaks marking the geographical divide between North and South China.
Wei River Valley
As the flight nears Henan, you can often see the fertile valleys that hosted ancient Chinese civilizations.
Book an A-row window seat. For the best experience, choose a morning flight (08:00-11:00) so the sun illuminates the eastern face of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. During winter months, the snow cover on the Qinling Mountains creates a stunning high-contrast landscape that is best viewed from this side.
Lijiang Old Town
A bird's-eye view of the dense, traditional tiled roofs of the UNESCO World Heritage site shortly after liftoff.
Daba Mountains
Rugged, forested terrain often shrouded in mist, typical of the Hubei and Sichuan border regions.
Central Plains Mosaic
The landscape transforms into a vast, organized grid of agricultural fields as you enter Henan province.
Yellow River (Distal)
Depending on the approach pattern into CGO, the 'Mother River' of China may be visible to the North.
The right side offers softer lighting during afternoon flights, which is better for photography of the agricultural plains. Keep an eye out for the rapid change in elevation—the transition from the 2,400m Lijiang plateau to the low-lying Henan plains is visually striking.
Distance: 1,564 km (972 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 5 min
Departure: LJG (26.6800003052, 100.246002197)
Arrival: CGO (34.519699096699995, 113.841003418)
Route Type: Domestic
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