Flying from Vancouver to Shanghai: what you need to know
You can choose from multiple airports when planning your flight from Vancouver to Shanghai. Check out your options for departing Vancouver from Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base (CXH) and Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
When working out where to land in Shanghai, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are the major hubs.
The average duration of a direct flight from Vancouver to Shanghai is 12 hours 59 minutes. Shanghai's timezone is UTC+8, which makes Shanghai 15 hours ahead of Vancouver.
The busiest route for flights from Vancouver to Shanghai is from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). You can choose from 6 services every week between these two airports. If you want to head off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from YVR to PVG is the 10:45 Air Canada service. If you prefer travelling later, the last departure is at 12:00 with Air Canada.
To ensure you catch your flight from Vancouver to Shanghai, leave enough time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Be prepared for longer queues in popular months like August and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
You will need a visa for China if you have a passport from Canada and are travelling for tourism purposes. Travel documentation and visa requirements can change. So before you lock in those cheap flights from Vancouver to Shanghai, check with your airline as well as the destination country's local embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.
Flying from Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
If you're after a direct flight from Vancouver to Shanghai, you can board one at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Fly from YVR to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in one seamless trip.
When jetting out of YVR, you can take a direct flight from Vancouver to Shanghai with Air Canada.
Located around 14 kilometres from central Vancouver, YVR can be reached in approximately 26 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The same journey on public transport takes roughly 33 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Vancouver to Shanghai? Avoid the stress of rushing to the airport (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels close to Vancouver International Airport:
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
You can arrive at CXH from central Vancouver in approximately 5 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The ride on public transport takes roughly 16 minutes to cover the 2 kilometres or so.
Start your vacation early with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from Vancouver to Shanghai, take things easy in one of these hotels close to Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport:
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is around 56 kilometres from central Shanghai. With your own car rental or if you take a cab, the drive is about 49 minutes.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Vancouver to Shanghai. Check in to one of these accommodation options near PVG instead:
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is around 14 kilometres from the centre of Shanghai. Once you've hopped off your flight from Vancouver to Shanghai, allow for a drive time of approximately 21 minutes to get to the heart of the city.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel near SHA. Here are a few options where you can kick back after your flight from Vancouver to Shanghai:
How to find the cheapest flights from Vancouver to Shanghai
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Vancouver to Shanghai is C$536. For a return flight on this route, the best price is C$973. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Lock in cheap flights from Vancouver to Shanghai by booking at least 1 month ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for finding the biggest deals.
Organize your trip for September. That's the cheapest month for tickets from Vancouver to Shanghai. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across each month.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap flights from Vancouver to Shanghai. You don't need to search every day to find out if prices have fallen. We'll notify you the moment the price changes.
Use filters to tailor your flights from Vancouver to Shanghai. Enter your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Best time to go to Shanghai
July is the most popular month for flights from Vancouver to Shanghai. To travel when it's less crowded, head to Shanghai in April.
The warmest month in Shanghai is August, with temperatures ranging between 23ºC and 34ºC. Lock in your flights from Vancouver to Shanghai in this month if this is the type of weather you like.
January sees average temperatures of between -1ºC and 10ºC. Look for cheap flights from Vancouver to Shanghai around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Shanghai
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Shanghai right here. Explore these hotels after you've booked your flight from Vancouver to Shanghai:
All great adventures should include a little sightseeing. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are attractions you won't want to skip in Shanghai.
Complete your Shanghai trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Vancouver to Shanghai to track down deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare offers in one place. Plus you'll find all the info you need to drive in Shanghai, from the most popular car type to the average daily price.