How to get from Chicago to Shanghai: connecting flights, about 20h total

Flights from Chicago to Shanghai

Pick a departure date to see flights and seller prices

We search agencies and airlines for your day: nonstop and connecting flights, baggage, departure and arrival times.

Prices by day: Chicago to Shanghai

Lowest one-way price in dollars from recent searches, cheap days in green. Press a day to see flights and exact prices.

Best fares from Chicago to Shanghai

Lowest one-way prices found by recent searches for the next 120 days; press a card to search that date

Cheapest one-way $448 9 December 2026, with a connection Cheapest in the next 7 days $568 15 November, Sun Cheapest month April 2027 tickets from $383

Where to connect

Options with one connection, fastest first

fastest, via Tokyo: 20h
two tickets, via Detroit: $574
connection options: 5
straight-line distance: 7,057 mi (11,357 km)

fastest

Via Tokyo

Japan

20h

with the connection

Chicago to Tokyo flight 13h 30m

Connection of about 3h Arrival: Haneda, Narita International. Departure to Shanghai: Haneda, Narita International.

Tokyo to Shanghai flight 3h 30m

two ticketsfrom $1,028

Via New York

20h 1m

with the connection

Chicago to New York flight 2h 11m

Connection of about 3h Arrival: John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International. Departure to Shanghai: John F. Kennedy International.

New York to Shanghai flight 14h 50m

two ticketsfrom $971

Via Seoul

South Korea

20h 3m

with the connection

Chicago to Seoul flight 14h 48m

Connection of about 3h Arrival: Incheon International. Departure to Shanghai: Gimpo International, Incheon International.

Seoul to Shanghai flight 2h 15m

two ticketsfrom $1,232

Via Toronto

Canada

20h 12m

with the connection

Chicago to Toronto flight 1h 47m

Connection of about 3h Arrival: Pearson International, Toronto City Centre. Departure to Shanghai: Pearson International.

Toronto to Shanghai flight 15h 25m

two ticketsfrom $832

Via Detroit

20h 16m

with the connection

Chicago to Detroit flight 1h 28m

Connection of about 3h

Detroit to Shanghai flight 15h 48m

two ticketsfrom $574

One ticket or two

How the options are calculated and what to keep in mind at the connection

Flight times come from the nonstop schedule (estimated from the distance where there is no schedule), with 3h allowed for the connection. The price of an option is the sum of the lowest known fares for each leg; their dates may not match, so treat it as a guide. The search shows tickets for your dates, including connections on a single ticket.

When to visit Shanghai

Weather by month

Best time to visit: April, May, October and November, +18° to +25° by day. In November it is +18° by day and +10° at night, with 7 rainy days.

Jan

+10° +1° 5 days

Feb

+11° +3° 9 days

Mar

+17° +7° 10 days

Apr

+22° +12° 10 days

May

+25° +16° 10 days

Jun

+29° +21° 17 days

Jul

+33° +26° 17 days

Aug

+34° +26° 14 days

Sep

+30° +23° 15 days

Oct

+24° +17° 8 days

Nov

+18° +10° 7 days

Dec

+11° +3° 4 days

Daytime and night temperatures in °C, rainy days. Months with the most comfortable weather are in green. Long-term averages.

Nearest nonstop flights

The closest you can get without a connection

From Chicago to cities closest to Shanghai

Chicago to Taipei Taipei: 428 mi (689 km) from Shanghai, flight 15h 55m from $626 Chicago to Seoul Seoul: 538 mi (866 km) from Shanghai, flight 14h 48m from $515 Chicago to Hong Kong Hong Kong: 762 mi (1,227 km) from Shanghai, flight 15h 55m from $523 Chicago to Tokyo Tokyo: 1,090 mi (1,754 km) from Shanghai, flight 13h 30m from $484 Chicago to Manila Manila: 1,150 mi (1,850 km) from Shanghai, flight 16h 40m from $467 Chicago to Dubai Dubai: 3,993 mi (6,426 km) from Shanghai, flight 13h 35m from $471

To Shanghai from cities closest to Chicago

Detroit to Shanghai Detroit: 237 mi (381 km) from Chicago, flight 15h 48m from $464 Toronto to Shanghai Toronto: 436 mi (701 km) from Chicago, flight 15h 25m from $537 New York to Shanghai New York: 711 mi (1,144 km) from Chicago, flight 14h 50m from $451 Dallas to Shanghai Dallas: 805 mi (1,295 km) from Chicago, flight 15h 50m from $552 Las Vegas to Shanghai Las Vegas: 1,521 mi (2,448 km) from Chicago, flight 14h 10m Seattle to Shanghai Seattle: 1,733 mi (2,789 km) from Chicago, flight 12h 55m from $807

Frequently asked questions

Is there a nonstop flight from Chicago to Shanghai?

There are no nonstop flights in the schedule. You will need a connection, the fastest is via Tokyo.

What is the fastest way to fly from Chicago to Shanghai?

Via Tokyo: 13h 30m to the connection, 3h 30m after it, about 20h in total with 3h for the connection.

How much does a flight from Chicago to Shanghai with a connection cost?

Two nonstop tickets via Detroit from $574. This is the sum of the lowest known prices for each leg, and their dates may not match.

Which cities can you connect in between Chicago and Shanghai?

Tokyo (20h total), New York (20h 1m total), Seoul (20h 3m total), Toronto (20h 12m total) and Detroit (20h 16m total).

How far is Shanghai from Chicago?

7,057 mi (11,357 km) in a straight line between the cities.

How much time should I allow for the connection?

The options allow 3h. On a single ticket the carrier is responsible for the connection; on separate tickets you set the margin yourself, allowing time to collect and re-check your bags.