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China
USA
Area Comparison
Beijing is 12.6x larger than Los Angeles
Population Comparison
Beijing has 5.4x more people than Los Angeles
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 12.6 times the area of Los Angeles. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² (503 mi²) — a difference of 15,109 km². You could fit Los Angeles inside Beijing approximately 12 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Los Angeles at 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.
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
The entertainment capital of the world. Often called "LA", Los Angeles has an area of 1,302 km² and is home to 4.0 million people. The city dates back to 1781. Visitors come for Hollywood, Venice Beach, Griffith Observatory, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LA Metro.
LA's sprawling metro area is larger than some US states
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 1.3x larger than greater Los Angeles at 12,562 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 13.2 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Los Angeles, with 3,049 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Los Angeles is noticeably denser, packing 2.3 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Los Angeles in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Beijing has a humid continental climate while Los Angeles experiences Mediterranean conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Los Angeles stays around 14°C while Beijing drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Beijing, it's midnight in Los Angeles — a 16-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Los Angeles fits inside Beijing ~12 times
Density Gap
Los Angeles is 2.3x more densely populated
Time Difference
16 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~2,826 years older
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Los Angeles is 10,062 km (6,252 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 20m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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