List of cities in China, size and population
Is China your next travel destination and you're doing a quick research? How about you start by finding out details about the cities in China? Such information will help you plan your visit by choosing the specific cities that you'll visit. Picking a few interesting Chinese cities to visit from the long list of cities in China is reasonable since it would take you a long time to explore the whole of this populous country.
China is the world's most populated country with a population of more than 1.3 billion people. This dense population occupies different cities in China. You might have heard of Shanghai or Beijing but there are hundreds of other cities in this Asian country. If you love adventure and traveling, you can also read about cities in countries like Germany, Belgium, France, and Norway.
List of cities in China
Read on to feed your curiosity of knowing the names of cities in China and the list of cities in China by population as published by the Demographia research group and reported by The Guardian.
1. Shanghai - 22 million people
Shanghai has a population of over 22 million people hence is among the largest cities in the world. When you visit this city, you'll not miss the Bund waterfront as it stands out as a major tourist attraction for Shanghai.
This city ranks sixth in the list of cities with the most skyscrapers hence you'll have a good time enjoying the city's amazing skyline. For instance, there is the 632 metre Shanghai Tower, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Yu Garden.
2. Beijing - 20 million people
With a history dating back 3 millenia, Beijing is surely China's most important and longest-standing capital. This mega-metropolis boasts of a population of over 20 million people.
Beijing is known for both its modern architecture as well as its ancient sites.
Here are some examples that you should purpose to visit while in Beijing.
- The ancient Forbidden City
- The Mao-era Tian'anmen Square
- The imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties
- The National Museum of China
- The Great Wall of China
- The towering skyscrapers of the Guomao District
3. Guangzhou - 18.7 million people
If you're already in Shanghai and want to visit Guangzhou, you'll move Southeast. In March 2017, Guangzhou already had a population of 18.7 million people.
In Guangzhou, you’ll find the 2,000-foot high Canton Tower, which has a striking resemblance with a thin hourglass. Visit the Baiyun Mountain, which is also known as the White Cloud Mountain and marvel at a great mountain top viewing. You can use a cable car for your visit.
The city has magnificent architecture including:
- Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhou Opera Housealso
- The Guangdong Museum
- The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
- China’s largest amusement park, Chimelong Paradise
The park has an amazing 10 Inversion Roller Coaster for all the adrenaline junkies.
4. Shenzhen - 12.2 million people
Shenzhen city serves as the link between the mainland China and Hong Kong. Notably, the city has a population of over 12.2 million people. The massive Luohu Commercial City mall is just one of the many shopping centres that Shenzhen city is known for.
While in Shenzhen, you'll have the chance to visit the following:
- The Ping An International Finance Centre - a skyscraper that is 600 m tall
- Window of the World
- Hong Kong Wetland Park
- Lizhi Park
5. Tianjin - 11.2 million people
The The Tianjin Radio and Television Tower can easily be seen from most parts of Tianjin. That is the case because the tower is 415 metres high. That is not all. Visitors can be amazed by the:
- Giant 120-metre ferris wheel
- The Tianjin Ancient Culture Street
- The Taku Fort
- Tianjin Eye
In terms of population, this city has over 11.2 million people.
6. Chengdu - 10.6 million people
Chengdu has a rich history that can be traced back to the 4th century BC. Currently, it serves as the capital of Sichuan province and has 10.6 million people.
This city is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This base acts as a conservation center for endangered giant pandas hence giving visitors the chance to view the pandas in a natural habitat.
Things to look forward to when visiting Chengdu:
- The Jinsha Site Museum holds the artifacts from the dynasty of Shu Kingdom.
- The Du Fu Thatched Cottage is the former residence of Tang Dynasty poet.
- The ancient functioning irrigation scheme of Dujiangyan.
- Mount Qingcheng, which is considered one of the birthplaces of Taoism.
7. Wuhan - 7.6 million people
Besides some great parks and bridges, the other interesting thing about Wuhan is its location. It is the capital of the Hubei province, which is a province that is located in the central part of China. Rivers Han and Yangtze pass through this city of over 7.6 million people.
Some of the things and attractions that make Wuhan a popular destination are:
- The Yellow Crane Tower, a five-story pagoda
- The Wuhan Yangtze Great Bridge
- The East Lake
- Happy Valley Wuhan theme park
- The Tortoise Mountain TV tower
- The Hubei Provincial Museum
8. Hangzhou - 7.6 million people
Hangzhou has a population of 7.6 million people and is the capital of Zhejiang province. In addition, it is the southern terminus of the ancient Grand Canal waterway. Its West Lake is a heritage site with amazing pagodas and gardens reachable by boats. You'll enjoy the scenic Qiandao Lake and the Lingyin Temple, which is a Buddhist temple from the 4th century.
9. Chongqing - 7.4 million people
Chongqing is also in this list because of its notable population. The city has a population of over 7.4 million people.
One of the attractions that will draw your attention when you visit Chongqing is the Great Hall of the People. Nearby, there are other tourist attraction sites that will make your visit worthwhile.
In addition, you can visit the old town of Ciqikou. This town has shops and snack stalls, and is home to the Fengdu Ghost City and the Baidi City. The latter is a complex ancient temple comprised of a river, canyon and The Dazu Rock Carvings. The carving are of different Chinese religions, which date back as far as the 7th century AD.
10. Nanjing - 6.3 million people
Nanjing has a part in the history of China. During the Ming dynasty, it was the national capital. At the moment, it acts as the Jiangsu province capital.
If you are inquisitive when in Nanjing, you'll have an insight into the sad and dark past of this city in which it had a horrific massacre in 1939 called the Nanking Massacre.
Visitors can enjoy the:
- Gorgeous Purple Mountain
- Ming Xiaoling
- Xuanwu Lake
- The Mausoleums of Sun Yat-sen's
11. Xi'an - 6.1 million
This city is a former Chinese capital. The name translates to eternal peace. Xi'an rocks this list with a population of 6.1 million.
Ensure that you visit the following attractions when you're in Xi'an.
- The Terracotta Army
- Lifelike sculptures of the terracotta warriors
- 7th century Buddhist landmark aka the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
- The Huaqing Pool with mountain hot springs.
12. Harbin - 4.9 million people
This city is the capital of Heilongjiang province. Visitors and locals always look forward to the annual Ice and Snow Festival during the winter. The Yabuli Ski Resort is located in this city. It is the largest ski resort in China with the largest ski jumping facilities in the country, which will give you an adrenaline rush of a lifetime.
Not only this, you can see the Saint Sophia Cathedral, Bingxue Big World or the Zhongyang Street when you visit this city of 4.9 million people.
13. Jinan - 3.8 million people
The over 3.8 million people living in this city have enabled Jinan to feature in this list of Chinese cities based on their population sizes. It is the capital of Shandong province and some people refer to this city as the Thousand Buddha Mountain.
You should plan to visit this city to experience the Daming Lake, Baotu Spring, and the Black Tiger Spring.
14. Changzhou - 3.5 million people
Changzhou is home to 3.5 million people. It terms of popularity, Changzhou is yet to be well-known by tourists like Xi'an city. However, Changzhou has spectacular attractions like:
- The China Dinosaurs Park
- Maoshan Mountain
- Tianmu Lake
- Lake Tai with a ferris wheel
- Dozens of islands
15. Shantou - 2.4 million people
Shantou has about 2.4 million occupants and located in China's southern coast. From this city, you can enjoy a breathtaking view from the Queshi Bridge, which is among the longest bridges in the world. At the same time, remember to visit the Zhongshan Park or Cihong Former Residence.
Other cities in China
Here is a list that shows the population of cities in China.
Takeaway
In a country of more than one billion people, there are surely more places and cities to visit than you can manage. The above list of cities in China just gives an overview of what makes up the country as a whole. Furthermore, China is one the countries in the world with a very high number of skyscrapers, hence another reason to marvel at the idea of visiting the People's Republic of China!
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Source: YEN.com.gh
