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China
China
Area Comparison
Shanghai is 3.2x larger than Shenzhen
Population Comparison
Shanghai has 1.4x more people than Shenzhen
Yes — Shanghai is 3.2x larger than Shenzhen by area. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Shenzhen covers 1,997 km² (771 mi²) — a difference of 4,344 km². You could fit Shenzhen inside Shanghai approximately 3 times.
To put Shanghai's size in perspective, its area of 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro. Meanwhile, Shenzhen at 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper).
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Known as "The Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai covers 6,341 km² with a population of 24.9 million. The city was established in 1291. Shanghai is known for The Bund waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
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. Its history stretches 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
Looking beyond city limits, the Shanghai metropolitan area covers 6,341 km², which is 3.2x larger than greater Shenzhen at 1,997 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 17.6 million.
Shanghai has a population density of 3,922 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Shenzhen is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
Both Shanghai and Shenzhen are in China, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Shenzhen fits inside Shanghai ~3 times
Density Gap
Shenzhen is 2.2x more densely populated
History
Shanghai is ~688 years older
The straight-line distance from Shanghai to Shenzhen is 1,213 km (754 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 56m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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