Guangzhou
7,434 km²
Melbourne
9,993 km²
China
Australia
Area Comparison
Guangzhou is 1.3x smaller than Melbourne
Population Comparison
Guangzhou has 3.7x more people than Melbourne
Melbourne is significantly larger, covering 1.3 times the area of Guangzhou. Melbourne spans 9,993 km² (3,858 mi²) while Guangzhou covers 7,434 km² (2,870 mi²) — a difference of 2,559 km².
To put Guangzhou's size in perspective, its area of 7,434 km² is about 1.2x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Melbourne at 9,993 km² is about 1.6x the size of 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. Melbourne, by comparison, equals about 1,400,000 American football fields, 170 times the area of Manhattan, or 95 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
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most-populous city in Australia. The city's name generally refers to a 9,993-square-kilometre (3,858 sq mi) area, comprising an urban agglomeration of 31 local government areas. The name is also used to specifically refer to the local government area named City of Melbourne, whose area is centred on the Melbourne central business district and some immediate surrounds.
Melbourne has an area of 9,993 km² and is home to 5.1 million people. The city dates back to 1835. Visitors come for Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Melbourne Trams & Metro.
Melbourne's metropolitan area spans 9,993 square kilometers across 31 local government areas, making it Australia's second-most-populous city.
Looking beyond city limits, the Melbourne metropolitan area covers 9,993 km², which is 1.3x larger than greater Guangzhou at 7,434 km². The Guangzhou metro area is also more populous, with 18.7 million people compared to 5.1 million.
Guangzhou has a population density of 2,513 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Melbourne, with 508 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Guangzhou is dramatically more crowded, with 4.9x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Guangzhou in Asia versus Melbourne in Oceania. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Guangzhou has a humid subtropical climate while Melbourne experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Melbourne, it's 10:00 AM in Guangzhou — a 2-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Guangzhou is 4.9x more densely populated
History
Guangzhou is ~2,049 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).
Melbourne covers 9,993 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Xi'an (10,097 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Chengdu (14,378 km²).
The straight-line distance from Guangzhou to Melbourne is 7,543 km (4,687 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 22m.
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