Northern Malaysians can now skip Kuala Lumpur and fly to China from Penang. Penang’s government counted nine Chinese cities with direct flights[1], and the routes below are the ones we could confirm. If your city is not on the list, a connection through Kuala Lumpur is the fallback.
Which Chinese cities fly nonstop from Penang?
The nine cities named by Penang’s government were Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Qingdao, Chongqing and Haikou[1]. Operators for Xiamen, Chengdu and Shenzhen were not confirmed, so check the airline for those.
| City | Airline we could confirm | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Spring Airlines | A classic first China trip |
| Guangzhou | Spring Airlines | Food, shopping and a gentle start |
| Qingdao | Qingdao Airlines | A coastal city and sea air |
| Chongqing | Chongqing Airlines | Hotpot, river views and a mountain city |
| Haikou | Hainan Airlines | Island holidays in Hainan |
Spring Airlines began daily Shanghai to Penang flights with an Airbus A320 in January 2026[2]. It began Guangzhou to Penang on 1 February 2026 with three weekly flights[3]. Qingdao Airlines launched Qingdao to Penang on 31 March 2026[4].
Chongqing Airlines began Chongqing to Penang on 9 April 2026, flying four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with a Boeing 737-800[5]. Hainan Airlines flight HU477 from Haikou to Penang was set to start on 11 October, flying Wednesdays and Sundays[6]. Whether it began was not confirmed, so ask the airline before you plan around it.
When is a Kuala Lumpur connection worth it?
Connect through Kuala Lumpur when your city has no Penang nonstop, or when the nonstop days do not fit your holiday. Our Kuala Lumpur direct flights guide shows which cities the capital serves.
Allow a generous gap between flights. Ask whether your bags are checked through to China, and put the whole journey into the budget planner so the extra leg is priced in.
What should seniors plan for?
A nonstop flight with fewer walks and waits is gentler. Ask the airline about assistance at the airport when you book, and choose an aisle seat if anyone needs to stand up often.
Pick a first city with level ground and mild days. Read our baggage rules guide for what can go in hand luggage, and our guide to late-night arrivals so your first evening stays easy.
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[7]. Rules can change, so confirm on the official source, and read the visa-free guide.
- Malaysia and mainland China share UTC+8, so there is no time difference to adjust to[8].
For more departure points, browse the from Malaysia topic page, and see the Kota Kinabalu flights guide if friends are flying from Sabah.