Beijing
16,411 km²
Zurich
88 km²
China
Switzerland
Area Comparison
Beijing is 186.5x larger than Zurich
Population Comparison
Beijing has 50.1x more people than Zurich
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 186.5 times the area of Zurich. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 16,323 km². You could fit Zurich inside Beijing approximately 186 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).
In more relatable units, Beijing's 16,411 km² is about 2,300,000 American football fields, 160 times the area of Paris, or 140 times the area of San Francisco. For Zurich, that's about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.
Beijing, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city, as well as China's second-largest city by urban area, after Shanghai. It is located in Northern China, and is governed as a municipality under the direct administration of the State Council with 16 urban districts.
Known as "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 Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Beijing Subway.
With over 22 million residents, Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city.
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. As of the end of 2024, the municipality had a population of 436,551, while the urban area was home to 1.45 million people (2020), and the Zurich metropolitan area had a total population of 2.1 million (2020). Zurich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic.
Zurich has an area of 88 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. Its history stretches back to 15 BC. Visitors come for Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmünster, and much more. Getting around is easy with the ZVV (S-Bahn & Tram).
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and sits at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich in north-central Switzerland.
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 12.3x larger than greater Zurich at 1,334 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 1.4 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Zurich, with 4,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Zurich is dramatically more crowded, with 3.7x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Zurich in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Beijing has a humid continental climate while Zurich experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Beijing, it's 5:00 AM in Zurich — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Zurich fits inside Beijing ~186 times
Density Gap
Zurich is 3.7x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~1,030 years older
Beijing covers 16,411 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), Chengdu (14,378 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).
Zurich covers 88 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Copenhagen (91 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Zurich is 7,982 km (4,960 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 53m.
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