Shanghai to Charleston flights
Charleston lies 12,552 km (7,800 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 51 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.
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| Shanghai | Charleston | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | United States |
| Population | 24.9 million | 132,609 |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Shanghai) | UTC-4 (America/New_York) |
| Nearest large airport | SHA, 12 km out | CHS, 17 km out |
| Postal codes | 200000 | 29401–29492 |
Clocks in Charleston are 12 h behind Shanghai right now, so a 16 h 51 min journey lands only 4 h 51 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Charleston
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 Charleston
Charleston is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Charleston International Airport (CHS), 17 km (11 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,001 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Hilton Head Airport (HHH, 94 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston International Airport | CHS | 17 km (11 mi) | 9,001 ft | 46 ft |
| Hilton Head Airport (regional) | HHH | 94 km (58 mi) | 5,000 ft | 19 ft |
One end has no runway over 10,000 ft, so at 12,552 km (7,800 mi) this pair is unlikely to be flown nonstop by a wide-body; expect a connection.
Book a flight to Charleston
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Staying in Charleston
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Book a hotel in Charleston
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Common questions
How far is Charleston from Shanghai?
12,552 km (7,800 mi) in a straight line, north of Shanghai.
How long does it take to get from Shanghai to Charleston by air?
About 16 h 51 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 Charleston?
Charleston is 12 h behind at the moment (America/New_York against Asia/Shanghai).
Which airports are used for Shanghai to Charleston flights?
Typically Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) to Charleston International Airport (CHS); Charleston also has HHH.
What currency do I need in Charleston?
The Dollar (USD).
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.