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 45m 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 19h 25m.

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 664 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

Search all flight deals to Guangzhou

Qatar Airways

Mar 9

CPT

18h 55m

1 stop

CAN

Mar 15

CAN

22h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R11 980

Kenya Airways

Mar 6

CPT

22h 10m

3 stops

CAN

Mar 10

CAN

21h 55m

3 stops

CPT

R11 996

Kenya Airways

Mar 6

CPT

22h 10m

3 stops

CAN

Mar 10

CAN

30h 25m

2 stops

CPT

R12 028

Kenya Airways

Mar 6

CPT

22h 10m

3 stops

CAN

Mar 10

CAN

30h 25m

2 stops

CPT

R12 044

Singapore Airlines

Apr 8

JNB

31h 35m

1 stop

CAN

Apr 17

CAN

23h 15m

1 stop

JNB

R12 333

Kenya Airways

Mar 23

JNB

19h 35m

2 stops

CAN

Apr 4

CAN

32h 05m

2 stops

JNB

R12 446

Qatar Airways

Mar 11

JNB

35h 55m

1 stop

CAN

Mar 21

CAN

20h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R12 478

Ethiopian Air

Feb 5

JNB

33h 20m

1 stop

CAN

Feb 24

CAN

18h 55m

1 stop

JNB

R12 638

Qatar Airways

Mar 25

JNB

19h 40m

1 stop

CAN

Apr 5

CAN

32h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R12 671

Qatar Airways

Mar 26

JNB

18h 40m

1 stop

CAN

Mar 31

CAN

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R12 719

Singapore Airlines

Feb 23

JNB

22h 25m

1 stop

CAN

Mar 2

CAN

37h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R12 735

Qatar Airways

Mar 14

JNB

18h 40m

1 stop

CAN

Mar 31

CAN

19h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R12 767

Flights to Shanghai Pu Dong Airport

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Singapore Airlines

Jun 3

JNB

20h 55m

1 stop

PVG

Jun 23

PVG

29h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R11 338

Singapore Airlines

Jul 1

JNB

28h 45m

1 stop

PVG

Jul 13

PVG

29h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R11 466

Qatar Airways

Mar 10

CPT

20h 05m

1 stop

PVG

Jun 15

PVG

22h 55m

1 stop

CPT

R11 964

Etihad Airways

Apr 4

JNB

21h 10m

1 stop

PVG

May 2

PVG

23h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R12 012

Etihad Airways

Apr 3

JNB

21h 10m

1 stop

PVG

May 2

PVG

23h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R12 028

Singapore Airlines

Mar 10

CPT

29h 40m

2 stops

PVG

Jun 16

PVG

20h 15m

2 stops

CPT

R12 205

Singapore Airlines

Apr 8

JNB

20h 55m

1 stop

PVG

Apr 17

PVG

24h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R12 365

Singapore Airlines

Apr 8

JNB

35h 35m

1 stop

PVG

Apr 17

PVG

24h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R12 414

Singapore Airlines

Apr 13

JNB

35h 35m

1 stop

PVG

Apr 22

PVG

17h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R12 462

Air China

Apr 13

JNB

30h 30m

2 stops

PVG

Apr 22

PVG

45h 20m

2 stops

JNB

R12 767

Ethiopian Air

Feb 6

CPT

19h 40m

1 stop

PVG

Feb 19

PVG

20h 15m

1 stop

CPT

R12 944

Air China

Jun 12

JNB

21h 45m

1 stop

PVG

Jun 16

PVG

30h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R13 184

Flights to Beijing

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Singapore Airlines

Jun 3

JNB

36h 50m

1 stop

PEK

Jun 9

PEK

24h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R9 555

Singapore Airlines

Apr 7

JNB

36h 50m

1 stop

PEK

Apr 17

PEK

24h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R9 796

Singapore Airlines

May 19

JNB

27h 15m

1 stop

PEK

May 31

PEK

39h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R10 567

Singapore Airlines

Mar 10

JNB

29h 20m

1 stop

PEK

Mar 16

PEK

24h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R10 727

Singapore Airlines

Apr 13

JNB

29h 25m

1 stop

PEK

Apr 21

PEK

24h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R10 743

Singapore Airlines

Jul 18

JNB

29h 25m

1 stop

PEK

Jul 24

PEK

24h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R11 546

Singapore Airlines

May 3

JNB

18h 55m

1 stop

PEK

May 10

PEK

39h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R11 691

Singapore Airlines

Jun 3

JNB

36h 50m

1 stop

PEK

Jun 9

PEK

24h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R11 707

Singapore Airlines

May 7

JNB

27h 15m

1 stop

PEK

May 14

PEK

32h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R12 751

Singapore Airlines

May 7

JNB

18h 55m

1 stop

PEK

May 12

PEK

24h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R12 960

Emirates

Feb 7

JNB

34h 25m

1 stop

PEK

Feb 23

PEK

19h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R13 072

Air China

Apr 6

JNB

18h 45m

1 stop

PEK

Apr 19

PEK

19h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R13 297

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 - 14:40

JNB

PEK

36h 50m

1 stop

0:05 - 18:35

PEK

JNB

24h 30m

1 stop

R9 555Singapore Airlines

Wed, Jun 3 - Tue, Jun 9

19:50 - 14:40

JNB

PEK

36h 50m

1 stop

0:05 - 18:35

PEK

JNB

24h 30m

1 stop

R9 796Singapore Airlines

Tue, Apr 7 - Fri, Apr 17

12:35 - 14:40

CPT

PVG

20h 05m

1 stop

0:35 - 17:30

PVG

CPT

22h 55m

1 stop

R11 964Qatar Airways

Tue, Mar 10 - Mon, Jun 15

12:35 - 13:30

CPT

CAN

18h 55m

1 stop

0:55 - 17:30

CAN

CPT

22h 35m

1 stop

R11 980Qatar Airways

Mon, Mar 9 - Sun, Mar 15

14:30 - 5:50

JNB

CAN

33h 20m

1 stop

0:10 - 13:05

CAN

JNB

18h 55m

1 stop

R12 638Ethiopian Air

Thu, Feb 5 - Tue, Feb 24

14:35 - 16:15

CPT

PVG

19h 40m

1 stop

23:30 - 13:45

PVG

CPT

20h 15m

1 stop

R12 944Ethiopian Air

Fri, Feb 6 - Thu, Feb 19

11:05 - 12:05

JNB

SHA

19h 00m

1 stop

13:20 - 7:55

SHA

JNB

24h 35m

1 stop

R14 839Cathay Pacific

Mon, Apr 13 - Wed, Apr 22

11:00 - 15:20

JNB

SHA

22h 20m

1 stop

13:35 - 7:25

SHA

JNB

23h 50m

1 stop

R14 887Cathay Pacific

Mon, Mar 9 - Mon, Mar 16

13:15 - 15:25

CPT

PEK

20h 10m

1 stop

7:25 - 16:40

PEK

CPT

39h 15m

1 stop

R16 541Emirates

Thu, May 28 - Mon, Jun 1

15:20 - 15:25

CPT

PEK

42h 05m

2 stops

0:40 - 11:30

PEK

CPT

40h 50m

1 stop

R17 504Emirates

Thu, May 28 - Sun, May 31

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

JohannesburgBeijing

JNB - PEK

JNBPEK

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 3/6

19:50-14:40

1 stop36h 50m

Beijing Capital

Tue 9/6

0:05-18:35

1 stop24h 30m

R9 555

JohannesburgBeijing

JNB - PEK

JNBPEK

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 7/4

19:50-14:40

1 stop36h 50m

Beijing Capital

Fri 17/4

0:05-18:35

1 stop24h 30m

R9 796

Cape TownShanghai

CPT - PVG

CPTPVG

Cape Town Intl

Tue 10/3

12:35-14:40

1 stop20h 05m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Mon 15/6

0:35-17:30

1 stop22h 55m

R11 964

Cape TownGuangzhou

CPT - CAN

CPTCAN

Cape Town Intl

Mon 9/3

12:35-13:30

1 stop18h 55m

Guangzhou Baiyun

Sun 15/3

0:55-17:30

1 stop22h 35m

R11 980

JohannesburgGuangzhou

JNB - CAN

JNBCAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 5/2

14:30-5:50

1 stop33h 20m

Guangzhou Baiyun

Tue 24/2

0:10-13:05

1 stop18h 55m

R12 638

Cape TownShanghai

CPT - PVG

CPTPVG

Cape Town Intl

Fri 6/2

14:35-16:15

1 stop19h 40m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Thu 19/2

23:30-13:45

1 stop20h 15m

R12 944

JohannesburgShanghai

JNB - SHA

JNBSHA

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 13/4

11:05-12:05

1 stop19h 00m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Wed 22/4

13:20-7:55

1 stop24h 35m

R14 838

JohannesburgShanghai

JNB - SHA

JNBSHA

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 9/3

11:00-15:20

1 stop22h 20m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Mon 16/3

13:35-7:25

1 stop23h 50m

R14 887

Cape TownBeijing

CPT - PEK

CPTPEK

Cape Town Intl

Thu 28/5

13:15-15:25

1 stop20h 10m

Beijing Capital

Mon 1/6

7:25-16:40

1 stop39h 15m

R16 541

Cape TownBeijing

CPT - PEK

CPTPEK

Cape Town Intl

Thu 28/5

15:20-15:25

2 stops42h 05m

Beijing Capital

Sun 31/5

0:40-11:30

1 stop40h 50m

R17 504

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 129, R2 619, and R2 744 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 664
Best Round-Trip Price	R9 555
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 664 (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Guangzhou Baiyun).

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The best round-trip flight price to China from South Africa in the last 72 hours is R9 555 (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 64% 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 060 for a flight to China. However, our users found flights to China for R9 219, which is the cheapest price we’ve seen in the past week. R32 069 per ticket tends to be the most expensive a flight to China will get, whereas anything for R17 211 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.