When is the Shanghai to Beijing 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.

PVG to PEK Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Shanghai to Beijing flight turbulent?

The PVG–PEK route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on PVG to PEK?

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 PVG to PEK?

The PVG to PEK flight takes approximately 2h 00m, covering 682 miles at 33,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

PVG

→

PEK

Shanghai · Beijing · 2h 00m

26.1

Turb Score

2h 00m

Duration

593 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 PVG–PEK

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h2h 00m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the PVG–PEK route

The Shanghai to Beijing 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 Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 33,000 feet over a distance of 682 miles (593 nautical miles).

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

Shanghai to Beijing Flight Time

How long is the flight from PVG to PEK?

2h 00m

Flight Time

682 mi

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Shanghai (PVG) to Beijing (PEK) flight takes approximately 2h 00m, covering 682 miles (593 nautical miles) at 33,000 feet. The route is operated by Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways. Return flights (PEK to PVG) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on PVG–PEK

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 PVG–PEK

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on PVG–PEK

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

Shanghai → Los Angeles

Moderate

PVG → SFO

Shanghai → San Francisco

See all transatlantic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

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

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

Frequent flyer · April

Some light chop over the subcontinent — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in December.

Regular traveler · December

There was some noticeable movement over Central Asia that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · January

All PVG routes→ All PEK routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Shanghai to Beijing flight turbulent?

The PVG–PEK route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 26.1/100.

When is turbulence worst on PVG to PEK?

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 PVG to PEK?

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 PVG to PEK?

The PVG to PEK flight takes approximately 2h 00m, covering 682 miles (593 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly PVG to PEK?

The main airlines operating this route are Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, 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