How long is the flight from South Africa to China?

The flight from South Africa to China depends on which airports you’re departing from and arriving to, and whether or not you have a layover. If you fly from Johannesburg OR Tambo (a popular airport in South Africa) to Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (the most popular airport in China), then the flight time is 19h 15m on average. If you fly from Cape Town Intl (another popular airport in South Africa) to Shanghai Hongqiao Intl, then the average flight time is 20h 35m.

What are the most popular cities to visit in China?

For momondo users, the most popular city in China is Guangzhou, which is visited about 49% more often than any other city in China. Other very common cities that our users travel to are Shanghai and Beijing.

R6 858 Cheap Flights to China in 2026

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Recent flights found to popular cities in China

Find flights to these popular cities in China from your nearest airport.

Flights to Guangzhou

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Kenya Airways

Mar 25

JNB

24h 30m

2 stops

CAN

Mar 31

CAN

23h 40m

2 stops

JNB

R12 698

Kenya Airways

Mar 23

JNB

19h 35m

2 stops

CAN

Apr 4

CAN

23h 40m

2 stops

JNB

R12 715

Egyptair

Jan 30

JNB

35h 30m

1 stop

CAN

Jun 26

CAN

37h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R12 731

Qatar Airways

Mar 25

JNB

18h 45m

1 stop

CAN

Mar 30

CAN

19h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R12 797

Qatar Airways

Feb 21

JNB

18h 40m

1 stop

CAN

Feb 27

CAN

20h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R12 813

Singapore Airlines

Mar 2

JNB

31h 35m

1 stop

CAN

Mar 10

CAN

37h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R12 830

Multiple Airlines

Apr 29

JNB

22h 30m

2 stops

CAN

May 5

CAN

25h 00m

2 stops

JNB

R12 879

Singapore Airlines

Mar 23

JNB

31h 35m

1 stop

CAN

Apr 3

CAN

23h 15m

1 stop

JNB

R13 125

Qatar Airways

Apr 1

JNB

17h 20m

1 stop

CAN

Apr 7

CAN

19h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R13 191

Singapore Airlines

Feb 5

JNB

16h 30m

1 stop

CAN

Feb 24

CAN

23h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R13 223

Egyptair

Feb 1

JNB

35h 45m

1 stop

CAN

Jun 26

CAN

37h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R13 256

Qatar Airways

Apr 3

JNB

19h 00m

1 stop

CAN

Apr 12

CAN

20h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R13 420

Flights to Shanghai Pu Dong Airport

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Singapore Airlines

May 1

JNB

37h 15m

1 stop

PVG

May 12

PVG

24h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R11 304

Singapore Airlines

Feb 28

JNB

36h 40m

1 stop

PVG

Mar 6

PVG

24h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R11 468

Singapore Airlines

Apr 8

JNB

20h 55m

1 stop

PVG

Apr 17

PVG

24h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R11 534

Singapore Airlines

Apr 8

JNB

20h 55m

1 stop

PVG

Apr 17

PVG

24h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R11 550

Qatar Airways

Feb 2

JNB

19h 15m

1 stop

PVG

Feb 16

PVG

22h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R11 599

Etihad Airways

Apr 26

JNB

21h 10m

1 stop

PVG

May 15

PVG

23h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R11 927

Singapore Airlines

Jul 1

JNB

20h 55m

1 stop

PVG

Jul 12

PVG

24h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R12 354

Singapore Airlines

Apr 30

JNB

17h 40m

1 stop

PVG

May 12

PVG

31h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R12 403

China Eastern

Jan 30

JNB

20h 50m

1 stop

PVG

Feb 24

PVG

24h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R12 567

Singapore Airlines

Apr 20

CPT

30h 05m

2 stops

PVG

Apr 27

PVG

20h 15m

2 stops

CPT

R12 633

Qatar Airways

Jan 30

JNB

26h 00m

1 stop

PVG

Feb 24

PVG

22h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R12 780

Singapore Airlines

Feb 3

JNB

34h 50m

1 stop

PVG

Feb 23

PVG

24h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R12 879

Flights to Beijing

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Singapore Airlines

May 6

JNB

21h 10m

1 stop

PEK

May 15

PEK

32h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R10 139

Singapore Airlines

Jun 3

JNB

27h 15m

1 stop

PEK

Jun 9

PEK

24h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R10 713

Singapore Airlines

Mar 5

JNB

19h 10m

1 stop

PEK

Mar 12

PEK

39h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R11 632

Singapore Airlines

Jun 3

JNB

36h 50m

1 stop

PEK

Jun 9

PEK

24h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R12 206

Singapore Airlines

Feb 10

JNB

21h 05m

1 stop

PEK

Mar 20

PEK

39h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R12 649

Singapore Airlines

Apr 20

CPT

30h 20m

2 stops

PEK

Apr 26

PEK

39h 20m

2 stops

CPT

R14 241

Emirates

Jun 20

JNB

18h 00m

1 stop

PEK

Jun 30

PEK

19h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R14 470

Air China

Jun 3

JNB

18h 45m

1 stop

PEK

Jun 10

PEK

41h 35m

2 stops

JNB

R14 552

Emirates

Apr 20

CPT

20h 10m

1 stop

PEK

Apr 27

PEK

34h 05m

1 stop

CPT

R14 634

Emirates

Jun 11

JNB

19h 55m

1 stop

PEK

Jun 15

PEK

38h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R14 700

Emirates

Jun 11

JNB

23h 20m

1 stop

PEK

Jun 15

PEK

28h 05m

1 stop

JNB

R14 716

Multiple Airlines

Feb 10

JNB

23h 15m

2 stops

PEK

Mar 20

PEK

31h 20m

2 stops

JNB

R15 028

Find the cheapest flights from South Africa to China

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Recent return flight deals from South Africa to China

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19:50 - 23:00

JNB

PEK

21h 10m

1 stop

16:35 - 18:35

PEK

JNB

32h 00m

1 stop

R10 139Singapore Airlines

Wed, May 6 - Fri, May 15

13:45 - 23:00

JNB

PEK

27h 15m

1 stop

0:05 - 18:35

PEK

JNB

24h 30m

1 stop

R10 713Singapore Airlines

Wed, Jun 3 - Tue, Jun 9

19:50 - 15:05

JNB

PVG

37h 15m

1 stop

0:35 - 18:35

PVG

JNB

24h 00m

1 stop

R11 304Singapore Airlines

Fri, May 1 - Tue, May 12

19:55 - 14:35

JNB

PVG

36h 40m

1 stop

0:10 - 18:35

PVG

JNB

24h 25m

1 stop

R11 468Singapore Airlines

Sat, Feb 28 - Fri, Mar 6

20:30 - 21:45

JNB

PVG

19h 15m

1 stop

23:35 - 15:35

PVG

JNB

22h 00m

1 stop

R11 599Qatar Airways

Mon, Feb 2 - Mon, Feb 16

13:45 - 21:45

JNB

PVG

26h 00m

1 stop

23:35 - 16:00

PVG

JNB

22h 25m

1 stop

R12 780Qatar Airways

Fri, Jan 30 - Tue, Feb 24

22:20 - 22:20

JNB

PEK

18h 00m

1 stop

7:25 - 20:35

PEK

JNB

19h 10m

1 stop

R14 470Emirates

Sat, Jun 20 - Tue, Jun 30

13:15 - 15:25

CPT

PEK

20h 10m

1 stop

7:25 - 11:30

PEK

CPT

34h 05m

1 stop

R14 634Emirates

Mon, Apr 20 - Mon, Apr 27

11:20 - 12:05

JNB

SHA

18h 45m

1 stop

16:50 - 7:40

SHA

JNB

20h 50m

1 stop

R15 044Cathay Pacific

Sun, Apr 26 - Fri, May 15

13:50 - 17:10

CPT

PEK

21h 20m

1 stop

0:10 - 13:00

PEK

CPT

18h 50m

1 stop

R15 094Ethiopian Air

Thu, Mar 12 - Thu, May 21

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

JohannesburgBeijing

JNB - PEK

JNBPEK

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 6/5

19:50-23:00

1 stop21h 10m

Beijing Capital

Fri 15/5

16:35-18:35

1 stop32h 00m

R10 139

JohannesburgBeijing

JNB - PEK

JNBPEK

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 3/6

13:45-23:00

1 stop27h 15m

Beijing Capital

Tue 9/6

0:05-18:35

1 stop24h 30m

R10 713

JohannesburgShanghai

JNB - PVG

JNBPVG

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Fri 1/5

19:50-15:05

1 stop37h 15m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 12/5

0:35-18:35

1 stop24h 00m

R11 304

JohannesburgShanghai

JNB - PVG

JNBPVG

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sat 28/2

19:55-14:35

1 stop36h 40m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Fri 6/3

0:10-18:35

1 stop24h 25m

R11 468

JohannesburgShanghai

JNB - PVG

JNBPVG

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 2/2

20:30-21:45

1 stop19h 15m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Mon 16/2

23:35-15:35

1 stop22h 00m

R11 599

JohannesburgShanghai

JNB - PVG

JNBPVG

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Fri 30/1

13:45-21:45

1 stop26h 00m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 24/2

23:35-16:00

1 stop22h 25m

R12 780

JohannesburgBeijing

JNB - PEK

JNBPEK

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sat 20/6

22:20-22:20

1 stop18h 00m

Beijing Capital

Tue 30/6

7:25-20:35

1 stop19h 10m

R14 470

Cape TownBeijing

CPT - PEK

CPTPEK

Cape Town Intl

Mon 20/4

13:15-15:25

1 stop20h 10m

Beijing Capital

Mon 27/4

7:25-11:30

1 stop34h 05m

R14 634

JohannesburgShanghai

JNB - SHA

JNBSHA

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sun 26/4

11:20-12:05

1 stop18h 45m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Fri 15/5

16:50-7:40

1 stop20h 50m

R15 044

Cape TownBeijing

CPT - PEK

CPTPEK

Cape Town Intl

Thu 12/3

13:50-17:10

1 stop21h 20m

Beijing Capital

Thu 21/5

0:10-13:00

1 stop18h 50m

R15 094

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Showing 1-10 of 20 resultsSorted by cheapest first

China flights insights and trends

Explore insights for your China flight to craft the best travel plan

Prices

Airlines

Other information

What is the cheapest flight to China?

If you are looking to fly to China for less, look to airlines like Spring Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, and China Southern, with prices starting at R2 175, R2 676, and R2 803 respectively.

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Cheapest flights to cities in China

Click on the cities below to find out when it's cheapest to fly to China from South Africa

Guangzhou

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Cheap China flight deals and tips

Summary info about China flight prices, duration and airlines

Best One-Way Price	R6 858
Best Round-Trip Price	R10 139
Fastest flight time	18h 40m
Popular in	September

The best one-way flight price to China from South Africa in the last 72 hours is R6 858 (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Shanghai Pu Dong).

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The best round-trip flight price to China from South Africa in the last 72 hours is R10 139 (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Beijing Capital).

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The fastest flight to China from South Africa takes 18h 40m (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Guangzhou Baiyun).

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September has the highest demand for flights to China, with a 13% price increase on average.

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Frequently asked questions about flying to China

What is the best airport to land at to visit Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center?

Flying into Shenzhen Airport is typically the best way to visit Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, since it is the closest airport to the area.

Which airlines fly to China?

Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are the top three most popular airlines that fly to China according to our data. Qatar Airways is the first choice among our users, with 65% of people opting to fly with this airline when travelling to China. Keep in mind that there are 12 different airlines that fly to China on a routine basis, so you have a few additional options to choose from.

What is the most popular airport in China to fly to?

If you’re unsure where to fly to in China, we recommend booking a flight that arrives at the popular Shanghai Hongqiao Intl airport, which services Shanghai and its surrounding areas. In the last 12 months, 18% of momondo travellers booking flights to China chose to fly into Shanghai Hongqiao Intl.

How much are flights to China?

You can expect to spend an average of R18 450 for a flight to China. However, our users found flights to China for R9 418, which is the cheapest price we’ve seen in the past week. R32 762 per ticket tends to be the most expensive a flight to China will get, whereas anything for R17 583 or less is considered a good deal.

When did momondo last update prices for flights to China?

Prices for flights to China are refreshed on a daily basis.

How many operators does momondo search for flights to China?

As of January 2026, there are 16 operators available to choose from for flights to China.

How old do you have to be to fly to China?

The minimum age a child must be to fly alone is five but airlines that offer an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service will have their own age restrictions, including rules around flight length, timings, and stopovers. We always recommend checking with the individual airline you are booking with to travel to China.

What documentation or ID do you need to fly to China?

The required travel and health documents for your China trip may vary depending on your itinerary and personal circumstances. As a general rule, you should carry multiple documents, including a national ID card or driver's licence and a passport valid for six months after your intended arrival at China. We recommend that you seek guidance from your airline or a reliable third party such as IATA.

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to find a flight deal to China?

We help find the flight that best suits your needs; momondo compares prices from hundreds of airlines and travel agents and helps you filter them to find the best flight for you.

Can I find flights to China with flexible booking policies on momondo?

Yes. momondo enables you to select and highlight flights to China with this policy.

How can momondo help me find flights to China?

Once you have performed a search in the form on the page, momondo provides useful filters and insights. We can show you the cheapest days and times to fly as well as filter your options to help you make an informed choice when booking flights to China.

I’m not ready to book a flight to China right now. Can momondo alert me if prices change?

If you are not ready to book a flight to China now, use our insights above to find helpful tips or alternatively set up a price alert; this is where momondo will track prices on flights to China and let you know when they change.