Shanghai to Washington flights
Washington lies 11,987 km (7,448 mi) north of Shanghai, -12 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 16 h 7 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
Open Washington in Google Maps
| Shanghai | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | United States |
| Population | 24.9 million | 689,545 |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Shanghai) | UTC-4 (America/New_York) |
| Nearest large airport | SHA, 12 km out | DCA, 5 km out |
| Postal codes | 200000 | 20001–56972 |
Clocks in Washington are 12 h behind Shanghai right now, so a 16 h 7 min journey lands only 4 h 7 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Washington
Crossing from China into United States: money changes from the Yuan Renminbi to the Dollar (USD); sockets are NEMA 1-15, NEMA 5-15; the dialling code becomes +1; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Airports at each end
Leaving Shanghai
Shanghai is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), 12 km (7 mi) from the centre, whose 11,154-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG, 34 km), Jiaxing Nanhu Airport (JNH, 96 km).
Arriving in Washington
Washington is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,169 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD, 37 km), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI, 45 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | DCA | 5 km (3 mi) | 7,169 ft | 15 ft |
| Washington Dulles International Airport | IAD | 37 km (23 mi) | 11,500 ft | 312 ft |
| Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport | BWI | 45 km (28 mi) | 10,503 ft | 146 ft |
One end has no runway over 10,000 ft, so at 11,987 km (7,448 mi) this pair is unlikely to be flown nonstop by a wide-body; expect a connection.
Book a flight to Washington
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Staying in Washington
Our booking partner lists 1,105+ places to stay in Washington (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 752 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (358), and 34 are five-star. Across 255 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.4 out of 10. Guests have left 260,731 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Washington
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Washington from Shanghai?
11,987 km (7,448 mi) in a straight line, north of Shanghai.
How long does it take to get from Shanghai to Washington by air?
About 16 h 7 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Shanghai and Washington?
Washington is 12 h behind at the moment (America/New_York against Asia/Shanghai).
Which airports are used for Shanghai to Washington flights?
Typically Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); Washington also has IAD, BWI.
What currency do I need in Washington?
The Dollar (USD).
Where can I stay in Washington?
Our booking partner lists 1,105+ places to stay in Washington, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.