Under the 2025 year-end permanent resident population standard, Chongqing is the largest city in China among cities with published official 2025 data, with 31.8726 million residents. This ranking counts the full administrative city area, not only the built-up urban core or metro area. Beijing is the capital of China. Discover why it's the political, cultural, and historical center of the country with over 3,000 years of legacy.
With more than 1.4 billion people, China is one of the most populated areas in the world, and nearly 848 million Chinese live in cities. By 2025, there are 293 prefecture-level cities in China, and the urban population density reaches 2,477 people per square kilometer. Generally, most populated places in China cluster in southeastern area, whereas northwestern places lag behind in China city Map of China Provinces & Cities The following map shows an overall view of China's land area of about 3.7 million sq mi (9.6 million sq km) on a scale of 1:9,000,000. The territorial waters and neighboring countries are also included.
These 14 top cities in China spark wanderlust among fans of impressive urban spaces. Find out which ones you'd most like to visit. China is a country of immense variety in its terrain and geography, but the story of modern China is often told through its cities. Learn more about fifteen of China's most important cities.
2 days agoBeijing, city, province-level shi (municipality), and capital of the People's Republic of China. The city has been an integral part of China's history over the past eight centuries. Redolent with historical, cultural, and political significance, it is one of the world's great cities. Learn more about Beijing here.
