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China
USA
Area Comparison
Beijing is 27.1x larger than Chicago
Population Comparison
Beijing has 8.0x more people than Chicago
In terms of area, Beijing is 27.1x the size of Chicago. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 15,805 km². You could fit Chicago inside Beijing approximately 27 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
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
Third-largest city in the United States. Also known as "The Windy City", Chicago has an area of 606 km² and is home to 2.7 million people. It was established in 1833. Visitors come for Deep-dish pizza, Willis Tower, Millennium Park & Cloud Gate, and much more. Getting around is easy with the CTA (L train).
Chicago reversed the flow of the Chicago River in 1900, an engineering feat that still stands
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 1.7x larger than greater Beijing at 16,411 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chicago is dramatically more crowded, with 3.4x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Chicago 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 Chicago — a 14-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Beijing ~27 times
Density Gap
Chicago is 3.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
14 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~2,878 years older
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Chicago is 10,603 km (6,589 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 58m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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