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Flights and stays in China
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Flights to China from Australia
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Sydney to Shanghai takes about 10h 30m nonstop.
The cheapest return fare to China seen in the week to 18 October 2026 was A$669 from Melbourne, one stop, departing October 2026.
One of 128 fares seen on this route in the past week. A fare seen is not a fare still for sale - check the live price before you book.
Search flights to China
Kiwi.com
Australia to China
90kSearch fares
Aviasales
Sydney to Guangzhou
60kSearch fares
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Compared side by side
| Search | Covers | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Trip.com Featured partner | Flights, hotels and packages | AUD |
| Kiwi.com Partner | Every Australian airport that flies to China | AUD |
| Aviasales Partner | Sydney to Guangzhou, the busiest route Australians fly | Local currency |
What flights to China cost from each Australian city
| From | Cheapest return seen | Stops | Departing | Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | A$669 | 1 | October 2026 | 18 October 2026 |
| Sydney | A$769 | 1 | November 2026 | 15 October 2026 |
When flights to China are cheapest
Cheapest return fare seen for each month of departure. October 2026 was the cheapest at A$669; December 2026 the dearest at A$972 - a difference of A$303 on the same trip.
Fares are the cheapest return economy price a searcher was quoted on Travelpayouts / Aviasales flight price cache in the week to 18 October 2026, in Australian dollars, for the routes Australians actually fly. They are observations rather than an advertised price, they move daily, and they are not a guarantee that the seat is still there.
Which Australian airports fly to China
6 Australian airports fly there direct. Passengers carried over the twelve months to 2026-06, from BITRE international airline activity. A busier route means more flights and more options when something goes wrong.
| From | To | Passengers a year |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Guangzhou | 531,074 |
| Sydney | Shanghai | 443,291 |
| Melbourne | Shanghai | 404,295 |
| Melbourne | Guangzhou | 393,969 |
| Brisbane | Guangzhou | 273,166 |
| Sydney | Beijing | 160,882 |
| Sydney | Xiamen | 159,096 |
| Melbourne | Xiamen | 150,141 |
When Australians fly to China
January is the busiest month for Australian trips to China and August the quietest, across 750,870 trips a year. The peak is when fares and accommodation cost most and when the cheaper insurance and eSIM options sell out first, so a trip that can move a few weeks either side of it is a trip that costs less.
Busiest monthJanuary
Quietest monthAugust
Australian trips a year750,870
Rank among destinations4
Australian Bureau of Statistics, short-term resident returns. The full China figures.
If you are not flying out of Sydney
The international leg is rarely the problem. The domestic flight that gets you to it is: Canberra to Sydney is cancelled 5.3% of the time against a national average of 1.9%. Book both legs on one ticket and a missed connection is the airline's to fix. On separate tickets it is yours, and the international fare is the expensive half.
Route and connection data for China
Check these before you pay for a fare
Your passport
China wants 6 months of validity beyond the day you arrive. A fare is non-refundable long before a passport renewal is.
Entry requirements
No - Australian passport holders can enter China without a visa for up to Up to 30 days per entry.
Travel insurance only covers a cancellation that was not already public when you bought the policy, so the cover is worth buying with the fare rather than in the last week. Compare cover for China.
More China essentials
China visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
China eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
China travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
China money and cards
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
China airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in China
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
China travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in China
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
China flights FAQs
How much is a flight to China from Australia?
The cheapest return fare to China seen in the week to 18 October 2026 was A$669 from Melbourne, one stop, departing October 2026. Across the 128 fares seen in the week to 18 October 2026, the cheapest from each city were Melbourne A$669, Sydney A$769. These are fares that were seen, not fares guaranteed to still be available.
When is the cheapest month to fly to China?
Of the 7 months with fares on record in the week to 18 October 2026, October 2026 was cheapest at A$669 return and December 2026 dearest at A$972 - a difference of A$303. Australian demand for China peaks in January, so the months either side of it are usually where the cheaper fares are. Fares move daily, so treat this as the shape of the year rather than a promise about any one date.
Can you fly direct to China from Australia?
Yes. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin all fly there direct. The busiest route is Sydney to Guangzhou, carrying 531,074 passengers a year. Figures are from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics.
Should I book my domestic connection to Sydney on the same ticket as my China flight?
Yes, wherever you can. Canberra to Sydney is cancelled 5.3% of the time against a national average of 1.9%, and on one ticket a missed connection is the airline's to fix - they rebook you onto the next flight to China. On separate tickets the international fare is your loss. If the legs have to be separate, fly into Sydney the night before.
Planning China?
We will send you the China guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.