Why Cathay Pacific offers the best connections into China

Many travellers already think of Cathay Pacific first when it comes to flights to Hong Kong, Europe and even the USA.

But don’t overlook the fact that China is right on Cathay Pacific’s doorstep.

In fact, with Cathay Pacific and its regional arm Cathay Dragon flying to over 20 cities in mainland China, it’s arguably the best way for many business travellers to visit China.

You can book connecting flights from Hong Kong to China on the same ticket as your Australia-Hong Kong itinerary, enjoy consistently high-quality product plus lounge access, and earn Asia Miles across your whole journey.

From its Hong Kong hub, Cathay offers seamless connections to over 20 destinations in mainland China.

This article is sponsored by Cathay Pacific.

Discovering the Cathay Dragon network

In addition to Cathay Pacific’s own flights to Beijing and Shanghai, the Cathay Dragon network spans over two dozen major industrial, port and business centres across China.

The Cathay Dragon network spans over 20 cities in mainland China

Despite the growing importance of these ‘secondary cities’, few of them have direct flights from Australia – so making the right connections is crucial for the business traveller.

For example, if you’re headed to Ningbo, Hangzhou or Nanjing, there’s no need to fly into Shanghai’s Pudong airport and then travel for up to three more hours, because Cathay Dragon flies directly to each city from Hong Kong.

Cathay Dragon is Cathay Pacific's well-regarded regional arm

You’ll feel more relaxed and productive when you arrive, and be able to spend more time meeting clients, customers and suppliers.

Cathay Dragon’s network also covers major cities along the eastern seaboard, including Wenzhou, Fuzhou and Xiamen; Xian, Chengdu and Chongqing in the northwest; the central China hub city of Changsha; and further north, Cathay Dragon also travels to Jinan, Qingdao and Zhengzhou, so you don’t have to backtrack from Beijing.

The Cathay Dragon experience

With many of China’s largest and most prominent cities served by the Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon network, what can you expect on your flights?

Cathay Pacific’s award-winning business class features on all flights from Australia to Hong Kong: you can look forward to a 180-degree lie-flat bed, plenty of space in which you can work or relax, and a premium selection of inflight meals and drinks (plus the rollout of an upgraded ‘restaurant-style’ service on Australian flights from early 2019).

Cathay Pacific's international business class

If your onwards flight is with Cathay Dragon you can look forward to a highly-rated regional business class with a deep recline so you can relax in comfort.

Cathay Dragon's regional business class

You’ll also receive award-winning wines and an exclusive business class menu boasting local and international flavours.

Just one of Cathay Dragon's delicious business class meals

On some Cathay Dragon flights there’s also first class, which uses the same seats as Cathay Pacific’s international business class.

Both Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon flights earn you Asia Miles, which can be used for upgrades or booking a points-based award flight.

Your Hong Kong stopover

One of the benefits of your stopover at Hong Kong International Airport is access to Cathay Pacific’s superb lounges, with The Deck and The Wing proving popular for Cathay Dragon’s morning departures to China.

Cathay Pacific's The Deck lounge is handy for many Cathay Dragon departures

Read: The business traveller's guide to Cathay Pacific's Hong Kong lounges

For flights booked on a single ticket your bags will be checked through to your final destination, leaving you more time to soak up all that Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong lounges have to offer.

Many travellers to mainland China also have associated business in Hong Kong, so flying with Cathay Pacific lets you combine those into a single trip. Not that anybody needs a reason to visit Hong Kong, of course!

Here are the 22 mainland China destinations served by Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon: Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guilin, Haikou, Hangzhou, Jinan, Kunming, Nanjing, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen, Xian and Zhengzhou.

This article is sponsored by Cathay Pacific.