London vs Shenzhen - City Size Comparison

Is London Bigger Than Shenzhen?

Shenzhen is significantly larger, covering 1.3 times the area of London. Shenzhen spans 1,997 km² (771 mi²) while London covers 1,572 km² (607 mi²) — a difference of 425 km².

About London

Capital of England and the United Kingdom. Known as "The Big Smoke", London covers 1,572 km² with a population of 9.0 million. The city was established in 43. London is known for Big Ben, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the London Underground.

London was the first city to have an underground railway, opening in 1863

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. The city dates back to 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 London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 4.2x larger than greater Shenzhen at 1,997 km². The Shenzhen metro area is also more populous, with 17.6 million people compared to 14.3 million.

Population Density

London has a population density of 5,712 people per km² — a densely populated city. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Shenzhen is noticeably denser, packing 1.5 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

London has a oceanic climate while Shenzhen experiences humid subtropical conditions. Summers are notably different: Shenzhen averages 29°C compared to 19°C in London. When it's noon in Shenzhen, it's 4:00 AM in London — a 8-hour time difference.