Guangzhou
7,434 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
China
Turkey
Area Comparison
Guangzhou is 1.4x larger than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Guangzhou has 1.2x more people than Istanbul
Yes — Guangzhou is 1.4x larger than Istanbul by area. Guangzhou spans 7,434 km² (2,870 mi²) while Istanbul covers 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) — a difference of 1,973 km².
To put Guangzhou's size in perspective, its area of 7,434 km² is about 1.2x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
Guangzhou's footprint is roughly about 1,000,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Manhattan, or 71 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Istanbul, that's about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong in southern China. Located on the Pearl River, about 120 kilometres (75 mi) northwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometres (90 mi) north of Macau, Guangzhou has a history of over 2,200 years and was a major terminus of the Silk Road.
Known as "Canton", Guangzhou covers 7,434 km² with a population of 18.7 million. The city was founded around 214 BC. Guangzhou is known for Canton Tower, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Guangzhou Metro.
Guangzhou boasts a history of over 2,200 years and served as a major terminus of the ancient Silk Road
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Also known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. The city dates back to 660 BC. Visitors come for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Guangzhou metropolitan area covers 7,434 km², which is 1.4x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Guangzhou metro area is also more populous, with 18.7 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Guangzhou has a population density of 2,513 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Istanbul is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Guangzhou in Asia versus Istanbul in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Guangzhou has a humid subtropical climate while Istanbul experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Guangzhou, it's 7:00 AM in Istanbul — a 5-hour time difference.
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~446 years older
Guangzhou covers 7,434 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Wuhan (8,569 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Shanghai (6,341 km²), Melbourne (9,993 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 km²).
The straight-line distance from Guangzhou to Istanbul is 7,886 km (4,900 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 47m.
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