When is the Hong Kong to Shanghai route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

HKG to SHA Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Hong Kong to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The HKG–SHA route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on HKG to SHA?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from HKG to SHA?

The HKG to SHA flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 765 miles at 33,000 feet.

Is the Hong Kong to Shanghai flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

HKG

→

SHA

Hong Kong · Shanghai · 2h 10m

29.3

Turb Score

2h 10m

Duration

665 nm

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for HKG–SHA

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h2h 10m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the HKG–SHA route

The Hong Kong to Shanghai route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 33,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 33,000 feet over a distance of 765 miles (665 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

Hong Kong to Shanghai Flight Time

How long is the flight from HKG to SHA?

2h 10m

Flight Time

765 mi

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Hong Kong (HKG) to Shanghai (SHA) flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 765 miles (665 nautical miles) at 33,000 feet. The route is operated by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern. Return flights (SHA to HKG) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on HKG–SHA

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly HKG–SHA

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on HKG–SHA

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

Hong Kong → Los Angeles

Moderate

HKG → SFO

Hong Kong → San Francisco

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Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

The 2h 10m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · April

Flew Hong Kong–Shanghai in March, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · March

A few bumpy patches crossing the Himalayas, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · January

All HKG routes→ All SHA routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hong Kong to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The HKG–SHA route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 29.3/100.

When is turbulence worst on HKG to SHA?

Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on HKG to SHA?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from HKG to SHA?

The HKG to SHA flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 765 miles (665 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly HKG to SHA?

The main airlines operating this route are Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data