Planning your route · 8 min read
Flights to China from Central Europe: flight time, prices and where to fly from
In short: a non-stop flight to China takes about 9.5 hours to Beijing and about 11 hours to Shanghai, and with one connection usually 15–20 hours. From Poland the only non-stop route is Warsaw – Beijing (Air China, daily). A return ticket from Central Europe usually costs about €550–900, more in summer and over the holidays. Budapest, Prague and Vienna are often much cheaper than Warsaw: in our October 2026 comparison a non-stop flight to Beijing from Budapest was about €275 cheaper than from Warsaw.
The flight is the biggest single expense of a trip to China, so it's worth spending some time on it. Below we explain how long the journey takes, what it costs, where to change planes and how not to overpay.
Correct as of 22 October 2026. We checked prices on Skyscanner, Trip.com and Booking.com – they are the cheapest return fares for one person on the day we searched. Prices are in euros at the National Bank of Poland rate of 22 October 2026 (€1 = PLN 4.37). Airfares change daily, so treat them as a guide.
How long is the flight to China?
| Route | Non-stop | With one connection |
|---|---|---|
| Warsaw – Beijing | about 9.5 h | about 15–20 h |
| Budapest – Beijing | about 9.5 h | about 15–20 h |
| Budapest – Shanghai | about 11 h | about 15–20 h |
| Central Europe – Chengdu, Guangzhou, Harbin and other cities | none from Poland | about 16–24 h |
The flight back to Europe usually takes a little longer because the plane flies into the wind: Shanghai – Budapest takes about 11 h 40 min, compared with about 11 h the other way. Flights to China usually leave during the day or in the evening and land in the morning or around midday the next day. China is 7 hours ahead of Central Europe in winter and 6 hours ahead in summer, so plan something light for your first day: time in China.
Why are Chinese airlines faster?
Since 2022 Russia has closed its airspace to most European airlines, so LOT, Lufthansa, KLM and Finnair have to fly around it to the south. Chinese airlines can still fly over Russia, so their flights to Europe are shorter and often cheaper. The CEO of Air France-KLM said avoiding Russia adds about 3 hours to a Paris – Seoul flight. That's why most non-stop flights from Central Europe to China are operated by Chinese airlines today.
Where to fly from: Warsaw, Budapest, Prague or Vienna?
The only non-stop flight from Poland is Warsaw – Beijing: Air China has flown it daily since April 2026, and LOT no longer operates the route. Neighbouring airports offer more choice:
| Airport | Non-stop to |
|---|---|
| Warsaw | Beijing (Air China, daily) |
| Budapest | Beijing (Air China), Shanghai (China Eastern), Ningbo (China Eastern), Guangzhou (China Southern), Chongqing (Air China, summer schedule) |
| Vienna | Beijing (Air China), Xi'an (China Eastern, since April 2026) |
| Prague | Beijing (Hainan Airlines, several times a week) |
In our experience flights to China from Budapest, Prague and Vienna are often much cheaper than from Poland. We checked one example: 10 days in March 2027 (9–19 March), Skyscanner, 22 October 2026.
| From | Beijing non-stop | Beijing, 1 stop | Shanghai non-stop | Shanghai, 1 stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw | from €884 | from €692 | none | from €636 |
| Budapest | from €609 | from €585 | from €590 | from €540 |
| Prague | none on these dates | from €575 | none | from €593 |
| Vienna | from €749 | from €704 | none | from €526 |
Budapest, Prague and Vienna are easy to reach from Poland and the rest of Central Europe by train, bus or a budget flight. When comparing prices, add the cost of getting there and maybe a hotel night – even then the trip is often cheaper. Which cities to pick for a first trip: first time in China.
NoteGetting to Budapest, Prague or Vienna and the flight to China are usually two separate tickets. If your train or plane is late, the airline flying to China won't rebook you. Leave a few hours' buffer or arrive the day before.
How much does a flight to China cost?
A return ticket from Central Europe usually costs about €550–900. You'll pay the most:
- in summer (July, August) – a non-stop flight can cost €250–450 more,
- over the holidays – Christmas and New Year in Europe, and in China Chinese New Year (6 February in 2027) and Golden Week (1–7 October).
It's often cheapest in November, in January (outside Chinese New Year) and in March. An example from October 2026: a return flight from Budapest to Harbin with one connection cost €491 in the second half of November, about €588 in January and over €820 just before Christmas.
TipCheck what's included. The cheapest fares sold by travel agencies often include hand luggage only. On the same January flight to Harbin, a ticket without checked baggage cost €588, and with checked baggage about €696. In winter, with warm clothes, you'll probably want a suitcase.
The flight makes up about 40–45% of the cost of the whole trip. Full budgets for 11 routes: how much a trip to China costs.
Where to change planes on the way to China
| Where | Airlines | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ningbo | Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan | shortest and usually cheapest when you're flying on to another Chinese city |
| Middle East: Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi | Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad | lots of connections from Central Europe and comfortable airports, but a longer route |
| Europe: Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Helsinki | Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Finnair | one airline from home, but the flight avoids Russia, so it takes longer |
| Central Asia: Tashkent, Almaty | Uzbekistan Airways, Air Astana | sometimes cheap, but with long layovers |
If you connect to a domestic flight in China, you go through passport control and customs at the first Chinese airport. Allow at least 2–3 hours and check that your bag is checked through to your final destination. In our experience Chinese airports are huge but very clean and well signposted in English, so the transfer usually goes smoothly.
If you're only changing planes in China on the way to another country, you may be able to use the 240-hour visa-free transit: China visa-free entry.
How to find a cheap flight to China
- Compare several search engines. The same flight on the same day can differ by tens of euros between Skyscanner, Trip.com and Booking.com – in our November example from €491 to €570.
- Look at the whole month, not a single day. The price calendar shows cheaper days, but it can be out of date – always check the price in a normal search.
- Check Budapest, Prague and Vienna, as well as Kraków and Katowice with a connection.
- Consider flying into one city and out of another, e.g. into Beijing and out of Shanghai. It usually costs about the same as a normal return and saves a day of backtracking.
- Book ahead. In our experience it's worth starting to look 2–4 months before departure, and even earlier for summer and holidays.
What to watch out for when buying a ticket
- Changing airports during a connection – e.g. Pudong to Hongqiao in Shanghai or IST to SAW in Istanbul. That's about an hour's drive and a risk of missing the flight.
- Self-transfer tickets – you collect and re-check your bags yourself, and if the first flight is late you lose the second one.
- Very long and overnight layovers – the cheapest ticket might save you €50, but with a 15-hour wait.
- Power banks – on domestic flights in China they must carry the 3C mark: common mistakes in China.
- Visa – check the rules for your passport; many visa-free arrangements are confirmed only until 31 December 2026: China visa-free entry.
FAQ
How long is the flight to China from Central Europe?
Non-stop from Warsaw to Beijing about 9.5 hours. With one connection to most Chinese cities usually 15–20 hours.
Is there a direct flight from Poland to China?
Yes, Air China flies daily from Warsaw to Beijing. To other cities you'll need a connection from Poland, but there are non-stops from Budapest to Shanghai, Ningbo and Guangzhou, and from Vienna to Xi'an.
How much does a flight to China cost?
Usually about €550–900 return. More in summer and over the holidays; November, January and March are often cheaper.
Where is the cheapest place to fly to China from?
Often Budapest, Prague or Vienna. In our comparison for March 2027 the cheapest was Vienna – Shanghai with one connection (from €526), and the cheapest non-stop was Budapest – Shanghai (from €590).
When should I book a flight to China?
Ideally 2–4 months before departure, and earlier for summer, Christmas and Chinese New Year.
What's the time difference between Central Europe and China?
7 hours in winter, 6 hours in summer – China is ahead.
Sources
- Two Continents: Air China resumes daily Warsaw – Beijing flights (daily from 12 April 2026)
- AeroRoutes: LOT cancels Beijing flights (2025)
- Fortune: European airlines and Russia's closed airspace (Air France-KLM CEO on a 3-hour longer flight)
- South China Morning Post: US and European airlines lose out to Chinese carriers
- Prices: our searches on Skyscanner, Trip.com and Booking.com, 20–22 October 2026.
A ready-made plan for when you land
Got your ticket? Our travel plans give you the whole route day by day: trains between cities, hotels, prices and addresses in Chinese to show your taxi driver. See our China travel plans.
