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TYN → CTU
Which side of the plane to sit from Taiyuan Wusu Airport (Taiyuan) to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (Chengdu)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side provides a superior vantage point for the dramatic crossing of the Qinling Mountains and the potential to see the high snow-capped peaks of the Tibetan Plateau fringe during the descent into Chengdu.
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Lvliang Mountains
Rugged ridges and deep canyons characterizing the western edge of the Shanxi plateau.
Yellow River Bend
The iconic river forming the border between Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces.
Mount Taibai
The highest peak of the Qinling Mountains, often capped with snow or clouds at 3,767 meters.
Min Mountains
As you head south, see the high-altitude forests that serve as giant panda habitats.
Tibetan Plateau Fringe
On exceptionally clear days, the massive 6,000m+ snow peaks of Western Sichuan are visible on the horizon.
Sit on the right side for the best chance to see the 'Sichuan Alps.' Afternoon flights are ideal as the sun illuminates the western peaks. Keep your camera ready about 30-40 minutes before landing; if the smog in the basin is low, the contrast between the flat Chengdu plain and the western mountains is breathtaking.
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Fen River Valley
View the fertile agricultural heartland of Shanxi immediately after takeoff from Taiyuan.
Xi'an Metropolitan Area
A view of the sprawling ancient capital of Shaanxi located just north of the Qinling barrier.
Central Qinling Range
The massive, densely forested ridges that serve as the biological and climatic divide of China.
Sichuan Basin Entry
Watch the landscape transform into the lush, hazy green hills of northern Sichuan province.
Chengdu Cityscape
Views of the dense urban development and the Longquan Mountains during the final approach.
The left side is preferable on morning flights to avoid the direct glare of the sun. It offers a better look at the urban sprawl of Xi'an and the eastern reaches of the Qinling range. Look for the distinct color change in the earth as you transition from the yellow loess of the north to the red-purple soils of the Sichuan Basin.
Get eSIMs for China
Get eSIMs for ChinaDistance: 1,127 km (700 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 30 min
Departure: TYN (37.74689865112305, 112.62799835205078)
Arrival: CTU (30.578500747680664, 103.9469985961914)
Route Type: Domestic
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