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USA
China
Area Comparison
Chicago is 10.5x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Chicago has 9.2x fewer people than Shanghai
In terms of area, Shanghai is 10.5x the size of Chicago. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 5,735 km². You could fit Chicago inside Shanghai approximately 10 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
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
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Also known as "The Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. The city dates back to 1291. Visitors come for The Bund waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 4.4x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Chicago is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Chicago has a humid continental climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's midnight in Chicago — a 14-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Shanghai ~10 times
Time Difference
14 hours apart
History
Shanghai is ~542 years older
The straight-line distance from Chicago to Shanghai is 11,357 km (7,057 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 52m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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