Sabah travellers can reach a good range of Chinese cities straight from Kota Kinabalu, and the list has grown this year. If your destination is on it, fly direct. If not, a connection through a Chinese hub or Kuala Lumpur gets you there with a little planning.
Which Chinese cities connect with Kota Kinabalu?
Officials said in March 2026 that Kota Kinabalu is connected to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou and Fuzhou[1]. Chongqing was added after that list was given.
Here is what we could confirm by airline.
| City | Airline we could confirm | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Spring Airlines | A classic first China trip |
| Chongqing | Chongqing Airlines | Hotpot and a mountain-city trip |
| Guangzhou | China Southern and AirAsia | Food and an easy first city |
| Hangzhou | AirAsia | West Lake and gentle days |
Spring Airlines resumed daily Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu on 28 January 2026[2]. Chongqing Airlines began Chongqing to Kota Kinabalu in March 2026, with flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday[3].
China Southern and AirAsia are listed as flying Kota Kinabalu to Guangzhou nonstop[4]. AirAsia is listed with about seven weekly Kota Kinabalu to Hangzhou flights as of August 2026[5]. Those two lines come from a flight-listing site, so confirm each route on the airline’s own page.
Should you fly direct or connect?
A direct flight is gentler for children and grandparents. Choose a connection when your destination has no direct service or the days do not fit your holiday.
For a connection, leave a generous gap between flights and ask whether your bags go through. Our Kuala Lumpur direct flights guide shows what the capital serves, and our guide to booking domestic China flights explains the step after you land.
How do you choose your first city?
Pick by the first three days, not by the fare alone.
- Classic sights and big-city energy: Shanghai.
- Food, shopping and an easy start: Guangzhou.
- Hotpot and river views: Chongqing.
- West Lake and a slower pace: Hangzhou.
What should you check before you book?
Routes start, pause and return, so treat each as unconfirmed until the airline shows it.
- Read the flight days for your month on the airline site.
- Malaysian ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days per stay without a visa[6]. Read the visa-free guide and confirm on the official source.
- Malaysia and mainland China share UTC+8, so there is no time difference to adjust to[7].
Friends flying from elsewhere may like the Kuching flights guide or the Penang flights guide. For more departure points, browse the from Malaysia topic page.