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Keen to make your way to ‘The Middle Kingdom’? If so, you will be in search of cheap flights to China, and you’ve come to the right place to find them.

Walk along the winding path of the Great Wall of China, explore every nook and cranny of the Forbidden City, take in the awe-inspiring beauty lakeside at the Royal Summer Palace retreat, and perhaps even cuddle a cute Panda or two – there definitely isn’t a shortage of things to see and do within this vast and vibrant Asian country.

The great news is that whether you are looking for cheap flights to China from Johannesburg, or a cheap flight to Johannesburg, Cape Town or anywhere in South Africa for that matter, you can’t go wrong when you use SA Airlines online and our simple flight comparison tool.

Popular Flights to China

  • Cape Town to China: *R10 600.00 Return
  • Johannesburg to China: *R8 900.00 Return
  • Durban to China: *R10 200.00 Return

NB: Prices correct at time of publication are subject to availability, and block out dates apply over peak season.

Flight Times to China

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to get a direct flight to China from South Africa, so flight times will depend very much on your stopovers. The following flight times are what you can expect on average:

  • Flight time Cape Town to China: 19 hours and 20 minutes (1 stop)
  • Flight time Johannesburg to China: 15 hours plus (1 stop)
  • Flight time Durban to China: 21 hours (1-2 stops)

Transport from the Aiport in China

If you are booking your flights to China so that you land at Beijing Capital International Airport, you will have plenty of options when it comes to transport to take you to the city centre (the airport is located 32km away), as well as downtown Beijing. One of the most popular choices is the subway, and the Airport Express line, in particular.

Stations are conveniently placed at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. The subway trains operate every 15 minutes, and you can expect the journey to last around 20 minutes, and are likely to pay 25 RMB for a one-way ticket.

The trains heading to the city centre operate from Terminal 3 at 6:21am to 10:51pm and at Terminal 2 from 6:35am to 11:10pm.

There are two stations in the city, namely Sanyuanqiao (interchange with Line 10) and Dongzhimen (interchange with Line 2 and Line 13).

If you are not keen on using the subway, you will also be able to travel to the city centre via shuttle bus or taxi.

When is the Best Time to Visit China?

If you are looking to save even more money on your trip (of course you are!) and to avoid the often extreme temperatures that come with summer and winter, the best time to visit China is in the spring (March – May) or autumn (September – November).

Note: If a visit to Tibet is on your itinerary it’s worth noting that it is closed to foreign visitors for two months during springtime so you would need to plan your holiday with this in mind.

Before booking your flights to China, always be sure to check whether any Chinese public holidays will be taking place during your trip. If so, avoid, avoid, avoid. Tickets will always be more expensive during these times, and the crowds will be very difficult to manage.

What is the Weather Like in China?

China is a large country with many diverse climates. Having said that, the vast majority of areas will be above 20 degrees Celsius during the summer months.

China generally has six temperature zones:
  • Cold-Temperate Zone: north part of Heilongjiang Province and Inner Mongolia (Representative city: Harbin)
  • Mid-Temperate Zone: Jilin, northern Xinjiang, and most of Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia (Representative cities: Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian, Urumqi, Hohhot, Dunhuang, Lanzhou)
  • Warm-Temperate Zone: area of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Hebei Province (Representative cities: Xi'an, Taiyuan, Luoyang, Jinan, Qingdao, Zhengzhou)
  • Subtropical Zone: South of isotherm of Qinling Mountain-Huaihe River, east of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Representative cities: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Guilin, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Chengdu)
  • Tropical Zone: Hainan province, southern Taiwan, Guangdong, and Yunnan Province (Representative cities: Haikou, Sanya)
  • Plateau Climate Zone: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Representative city: Lhasa)

Top Things to See and Do in China

The top things to add to your itinerary when in China include:

  • The Great Wall of China
  • The Forbidden City
  • The Bund
  • Xi’an
  • The Terracotta Army
  • The Yellow Mountains
  • The Li River
  • The Potala Palace
  • Summer Palace
  • West Lake
  • Victoria Harbour

Interesting Facts about China

Once you've booked your flights to China from South Africa, your explorations can soon begin. Here are a few interesting facts to inspire you as you anticipate your holiday:

  • China has the largest population in the world, with over 1.4 billion people (1,343,239,923) as of 2017.
  • China is the 3rd largest country by area at 9,706,961 sq km
  • Only around 47% of the country’s population live in urban areas.
  • The Great Wall of China is the largest man-made structure in the world, stretching an incredible 8,850 kilometres.
  • China is nicknamed both ‘The Middle Kingdom’ and ‘The Red Dragon’

Book Cheap Flights to China Today

It is time to make your way to China and experience the best of what it has to offer. So, let’s get started and book your flight tickets. SA Airline’s handy flight comparison tool allows you to take full advantage of specials and discounts from some of the world’s most trusted carriers. Book today!