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China
USA
Area Comparison
Beijing is 135.6x larger than San Francisco
Population Comparison
Beijing has 24.8x more people than San Francisco
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 135.6 times the area of San Francisco. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 16,290 km². You could fit San Francisco inside Beijing approximately 135 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, San Francisco at 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper).
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 cultural and financial center in Northern California. Nicknamed "SF", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. The city dates back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.
San Francisco's 121 km² makes it one of the smallest major US cities by area
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 2.3x larger than greater San Francisco at 6,984 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. San Francisco is dramatically more crowded, with 5.5x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus San Francisco 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 San Francisco experiences Mediterranean conditions. Summers are notably different: Beijing averages 27°C compared to 17°C in San Francisco. When it's noon in Beijing, it's midnight in San Francisco — a 16-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
San Francisco fits inside Beijing ~135 times
Density Gap
San Francisco is 5.5x more densely populated
Time Difference
16 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~2,821 years older
The straight-line distance from Beijing to San Francisco is 9,503 km (5,905 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 41m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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