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China
USA
Area Comparison
Beijing is 70.7x larger than Boston
Population Comparison
Beijing has 31.7x more people than Boston
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 70.7 times the area of Boston. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Boston covers 232 km² (90 mi²) — a difference of 16,179 km². You could fit Boston inside Beijing approximately 70 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Boston at 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam.
China's capital and political center. Known as "The Northern Capital", Beijing covers 16,411 km² with a population of 21.5 million. The city was founded around 1045 BC. Beijing is known for The Forbidden City, Great Wall of China, Temple of Heaven, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Beijing Subway.
Beijing's administrative area of 16,411 km² makes it larger than many small countries
A historic city and academic center in the northeastern US. Also known as "Beantown", Boston has an area of 232 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1630. Visitors come for Harvard & MIT, Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MBTA (The T).
Boston's subway system (the T) opened in 1897, making it the oldest subway in North America
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 1.4x larger than greater Boston at 11,700 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 4.9 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Boston, with 2,931 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Boston is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Boston in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid continental climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Beijing, it's midnight in Boston — a 13-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Boston fits inside Beijing ~70 times
Density Gap
Boston is 2.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
13 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~2,675 years older
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Boston is 10,837 km (6,734 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 15m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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