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PVG → CMB
Which side of the plane to sit from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (Shanghai) to Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (Colombo)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a stunning progression from the bustling Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea's coral atolls to the scenic coastal approach into Sri Lanka.
Pearl River Delta
Aerial views of the massive urban sprawl encompassing Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzhen shortly after reaching cruise altitude.
Paracel Islands
Vivid turquoise coral atolls and remote sandbars scattered across the deep blue South China Sea.
Vietnam Coastline
Dramatic views of the central Vietnamese coast, including the Marble Mountains and the lagoons near Da Nang.
Andaman Sea
Deep blue waters dotted with small tropical islands as the flight crosses from Southeast Asia toward the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lankan East Coast
The first glimpse of the 'Teardrop of India' featuring palm-fringed beaches and lagoons near Batticaloa during the descent.
Book a seat well ahead of the wing to capture unobstructed photos of the South China Sea atolls. On daytime flights, the left side avoids the harshest direct sunlight, providing better lighting for photography of the Vietnamese coastline and the Sri Lankan entry.
Guilin Karst Peaks
The distinctive limestone 'sugarloaf' mountains of Southern China visible during the initial hours of the flight.
Mekong River
The winding brown ribbons of the mighty Mekong River as it snakes through the borders of Laos and Thailand.
Bangkok Metro Area
The sprawling, dense urban landscape of Thailand's capital, recognizable by its winding Chao Phraya River.
Nicobar Islands
Isolated and heavily forested island chains belonging to India, appearing as green emeralds in the Bay of Bengal.
Indian Ocean Sunset
On late afternoon departures, this side provides front-row seats to spectacular tropical sunsets over the open ocean.
Select the right side if you are on an evening flight to witness the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Be aware that during the monsoon season (May to October), heavy cloud cover often develops over the Indochinese mountains, which can obscure the inland landmarks on this side.
Distance: 5,099 km (3,168 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 6 hrs
Departure: PVG (31.143400192260746, 121.80500030517578)
Arrival: CMB (7.180759906768799, 79.88410186767578)
Route Type: International
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