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China
China
Area Comparison
Beijing is 8.2x larger than Shenzhen
Population Comparison
Beijing has 1.2x more people than Shenzhen
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 8.2 times the area of Shenzhen. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Shenzhen covers 1,997 km² (771 mi²) — a difference of 14,414 km². You could fit Shenzhen inside Beijing approximately 8 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Shenzhen at 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (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
China's tech capital and a major innovation hub. Nicknamed "China's Silicon Valley", Shenzhen has an area of 1,997 km² and is home to 17.6 million people. It was established in 1979. Visitors come for Tech industry (Huawei, Tencent, DJI), Shenzhen Bay, Window of the World theme park, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shenzhen Metro.
Shenzhen grew from a fishing village of 30,000 people to a megacity of 17 million in just 40 years
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 8.2x larger than greater Shenzhen at 1,997 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 17.6 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Shenzhen is dramatically more crowded, with 6.7x the population density.
Both Beijing and Shenzhen are in China, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.
Beijing has a humid continental climate while Shenzhen experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Shenzhen stays around 15°C while Beijing drops to -3°C.
Size Ratio
Shenzhen fits inside Beijing ~8 times
Density Gap
Shenzhen is 6.7x more densely populated
History
Beijing is ~3,024 years older
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Shenzhen is 1,943 km (1,207 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 47m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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