Chinese carrier China Southern currently offers remarkably cheap tickets for one-way travel to its native China, selling tickets to Shanghai Pudong airport for as little as €219 (~HUF 85,662) with a change of planes in Guangzhou.
Since the city is not only a worthwhile destination on its own, but also a major transport hub, you can reach many Asian and Australian destinations in the next step of your trip.
You can score the following prices without a stopover:
You can also spend up to a week in Guangzhou and pay the following:
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price. It will forward you to Skyscanner with your selected flight date. The flight arrives in China one day after departing in Europe.
Long-haul flights are operated by China Southern’s Boeing 787 fleet. You can expect a state-of-the-art seat with power outlets and personal inflight entertainment for the ten-hour ride to Guangzhou. Since Guangzhou to Shanghai is a high-demand connection, you will probably find yourself in another widebody (like an Airbus A330) on your way to China’s East Coast.
Until December 2025, citizens of 24 countries in Europe may enter China for 15 days without applying for a visa.
Search & Book
Tickets are on sale without a sales period for travel until the end of the year.
Google Flights helps you find additional flight dates or destinations, as many other Chinese cities are just €100 more expensive. You can find the cheapest tickets on Skyscanner, but might want to consider booking directly on China Southern’s website.
To find flights with a stopover, select one of the dates with the cheapest price and switch to Google’s multi-stop search. You can adjust the day of your flight to Shanghai to your liking.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Miles & Points
China Southern issues these tickets in booking class T, resulting in the following credits:
- 1,493 Award Miles on Flying Blue
- 1,493 Award Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- Customize Calculation
Premium Economy segments are booking class S, earning the following:
- 5,224 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 5,224 Award Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 4,105 Award Miles on Flying Blue
- 4,105 Award Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 3,918 Avios on The British Airways Club
- 2,612 Award Miles on American AAdvantage
- 2,612 Miles on Air Europa Suma
- Customize Calculation
Destination
Information & Tips for Shanghai
Shanghai is known for its stunning skyline, with landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Bund, and the futuristic Pudong district. The city also offers cultural sights like the Yuyuan Garden and the Shanghai Museum. The currency is the Chinese yuan (CNY), and credit cards are widely accepted. Shanghai is a relatively expensive city, particularly in tourist areas, but affordable options are available for food and accommodation. The weather is humid subtropical, with hot, rainy summers and mild winters, making the best time to visit during spring and autumn when temperatures are more comfortable.
We’ve compared various esim providers, such as eSIM4Travel, RedteaGo, and Textr. To see which plan is best for your travel needs and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for China 🇨🇳 Compared
→ All Dealz for Shanghai
Cover Picture: © Robynne Hu