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USA
China
Area Comparison
Chicago is 12.3x smaller than Guangzhou
Population Comparison
Chicago has 6.9x fewer people than Guangzhou
In terms of area, Guangzhou is 12.3x the size of Chicago. Guangzhou spans 7,434 km² (2,870 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 6,828 km². You could fit Chicago inside Guangzhou approximately 12 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Guangzhou at 7,434 km² is about 1.2x the size of Shanghai.
Third-largest city in the United States. Known as "The Windy City", Chicago covers 606 km² with a population of 2.7 million. The city was established in 1833. Chicago is known for Deep-dish pizza, Willis Tower, Millennium Park & Cloud Gate, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the CTA (L train).
Chicago reversed the flow of the Chicago River in 1900, an engineering feat that still stands
A major port city and trade hub in southern China. Nicknamed "Canton", Guangzhou has an area of 7,434 km² and is home to 18.7 million people. It was founded around 214 BC. Visitors come for Canton Tower, Cantonese cuisine (dim sum), Canton Fair, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Guangzhou Metro.
Guangzhou has been a major trading port for over 2,000 years and was a key stop on the Maritime Silk Road
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 3.8x larger than greater Guangzhou at 7,434 km². The Guangzhou metro area is also more populous, with 18.7 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Guangzhou, with 2,513 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chicago is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Guangzhou in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Chicago has a humid continental climate while Guangzhou experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Guangzhou stays around 14°C while Chicago drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Guangzhou, it's midnight in Chicago — a 14-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Guangzhou ~12 times
Density Gap
Chicago is 1.8x more densely populated
Time Difference
14 hours apart
History
Guangzhou is ~2,047 years older
The straight-line distance from Chicago to Guangzhou is 12,474 km (7,751 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~15h 10m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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