Chicago vs Shenzhen - City Size Comparison

Is Chicago Bigger Than Shenzhen?

Shenzhen is significantly larger, covering 3.3 times the area of Chicago. Shenzhen spans 1,997 km² (771 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 1,391 km². You could fit Chicago inside Shenzhen approximately 3 times.

About Chicago

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

About Shenzhen

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

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 14.1x larger than greater Shenzhen at 1,997 km². The Shenzhen metro area is also more populous, with 17.6 million people compared to 9.5 million.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Shenzhen is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Chicago has a humid continental climate while Shenzhen experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Shenzhen stays around 15°C while Chicago drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Shenzhen, it's midnight in Chicago — a 14-hour time difference.