Guangzhou
7,434 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
China
Japan
Area Comparison
Guangzhou is 3.4x larger than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Guangzhou has 1.3x more people than Tokyo
In terms of area, Guangzhou is 3.4x the size of Tokyo. Guangzhou spans 7,434 km² (2,870 mi²) while Tokyo covers 2,194 km² (847 mi²) — a difference of 5,240 km². You could fit Tokyo inside Guangzhou approximately 3 times.
To put Guangzhou's size in perspective, its area of 7,434 km² is about 1.2x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
In more relatable units, Guangzhou's 7,434 km² is about 1,000,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Manhattan, or 71 times the area of Paris. For Tokyo, that's about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 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
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Also known as "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. It was established in 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 1.8x larger than greater Guangzhou at 7,434 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 18.7 million.
Guangzhou has a population density of 2,513 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Tokyo is noticeably denser, packing 2.5 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Guangzhou (China) and Tokyo (Japan) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Tokyo fits inside Guangzhou ~3 times
Density Gap
Tokyo is 2.5x more densely populated
History
Guangzhou is ~1,671 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).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Guangzhou to Tokyo is 2,898 km (1,801 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 55m.
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