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USA
China
Area Comparison
Los Angeles is 4.9x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Los Angeles has 6.3x fewer people than Shanghai
Yes — Shanghai is 4.9x larger than Los Angeles by area. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² (503 mi²) — a difference of 5,039 km². You could fit Los Angeles inside Shanghai approximately 4 times.
To put Los Angeles's size in perspective, its area of 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
The entertainment capital of the world. Known as "LA", Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² with a population of 4.0 million. The city was established in 1781. Los Angeles is known for Hollywood, Venice Beach, Griffith Observatory, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the LA Metro.
LA's sprawling metro area is larger than some US states
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Also known as "The Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. The city dates back to 1291. Visitors come for The Bund waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
Looking beyond city limits, the Los Angeles metropolitan area covers 12,562 km², which is 2.0x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 13.2 million.
Los Angeles has a population density of 3,049 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Shanghai is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Los Angeles in North America versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's midnight in Los Angeles — a 16-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Los Angeles fits inside Shanghai ~4 times
Time Difference
16 hours apart
History
Shanghai is ~490 years older
The straight-line distance from Los Angeles to Shanghai is 10,434 km (6,484 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 47m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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