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China
Turkey
Area Comparison
Beijing is 3.0x larger than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Beijing has 1.4x more people than Istanbul
In terms of area, Beijing is 3.0x the size of Istanbul. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Istanbul covers 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) — a difference of 10,950 km². You could fit Istanbul inside Beijing approximately 3 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
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
Turkey's largest city, spanning Europe and Asia. Also known as "The City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. The city dates back to 660 BC. Visitors come for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents — Europe and Asia
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 3.0x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Istanbul is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Istanbul in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Beijing has a humid continental climate while Istanbul experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Beijing, it's 7:00 AM in Istanbul — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Istanbul fits inside Beijing ~3 times
Density Gap
Istanbul is 2.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~385 years older
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Istanbul is 7,056 km (4,384 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 48m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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