What does it mean to you big city? A million inhabitants, two, or maybe ten or even thirty? See a photo gallery of the 20 largest cities in the world by population.
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is in 20th place in terms of population.
Buenos Aires ranks 19th, with 14.3 million people living in the capital of Argentina.
18th: Kolkata is the largest city in India with a population of 15.7 million.
17th place: Cairo - the capital of Egypt - the number of inhabitants is 17.3 million.
Beijing is home to 16.4 million inhabitants, which places the Chinese capital in 15th place in the ranking.
Los Angeles is the 13th most populous city with 17 million residents.
The capital of the Philippines, Manila, is the 12th largest city in the world with 20.7 million inhabitants.
The Indian city of Bombay, home to 20.8 million people, ranks 11th in the ranking.
9th place: Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, home to 21.1 million people.
7th place: Indian Delhi - 23 million inhabitants.
The Mexican capital, Mexico City, ranks 6th in terms of population with 23.2 million inhabitants.
The 5th most populous city in the world is Shanghai. This largest Chinese city is home to 25.3 million inhabitants.
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In 2nd place: Guangzhou is the largest Chinese city, home to 25.8 million people.
The largest city in the world by population is Tokyo. The capital of Japan is home to 34.5 million people. Tokyo is the undisputed leader in our ranking and will remain so for a long time.
With the development of industrialization, more and more people are moving from rural areas to cities. This is a natural process called urbanization. The territory of cities and the number of inhabitants is growing steadily. Which city has the largest population? What is the largest city in the world by area? Read the answers in our ranking of the top 10 big cities.
The largest cities in the world by population
To determine largest cities of the world by the number of inhabitants inhabiting them, in April 2018, scientists conducted the study “Demographia. World Urban Areas 14th Annual Edition”. In their measurements, scientists took into account only urban agglomerations with continuous development. fused agglomerations were considered as one object. So where do the largest numbers of residents live? You will find the answer in the following list.
Agglomeration - a compact cluster of settlements with a clear central city.
10 largest cities in the world by population:
- Tokyo - Yokohama. The largest city on earth by population. The population is 38,050 thousand people. This agglomeration is formed by the two largest cities of Japan fused together. Tokyo is the capital of the state, and Yokohama is the largest port in the country.
- Jakarta. The population is 32,275 thousand people. The capital of Indonesia is growing with new residents at a very fast pace.
- Delhi. The Indian metropolis has 27,280 thousand inhabitants. The city is the second largest in India and is home to the country's capital, New Delhi.
- Manila. The Philippine capital is home to 24,650 thousand people, most of whom live below the poverty line.
- Seoul - Incheon. The agglomeration of the capital of Korea and surrounding cities is also overpopulated - 24,210 thousand inhabitants.
- Shanghai. Leader among Chinese settlements in terms of population growth - 24,115 thousand as of April 2018. It is the largest seaport in the world and the most important financial and cultural center of China.
- Mumbai. The number of residents is growing rapidly due to a standard of living above the Indian average - 23,265,000. Economic capital of India, 40% of the total foreign trade is located in this locality.
- . The US financial center also attracts a huge number of people - 21,575,000.
- Beijing. The capital of China is home to 21,250 thousand people. Since 2015, population growth has slowed down, and by 2018 it stopped.
- Sao Paulo. The most populous metropolis in the Southern Hemisphere - 21,100 thousand inhabitants. The city is an important financial center of Brazil, accounting for 12% of the country's GDP.
And our capital Moscow still ranks 15th in this ranking with 16,855 thousand people, but this number is growing very quickly. But among countries by the number of million-plus cities Russian Federation holds a respectable fourth place. China, India and Brazil are ahead of us in this indicator.
The largest city in the world by area
There is also a system for measuring the area of settlements, including the entire territory. This method does not take into account the continuity and density of buildings. In this option, the territory is calculated taking into account water and mountain areas. What is the largest city in the world by area? Find the answer to this question in the list below.
List of largest cities by area:
- Chongqing (China) - 82403 km². It is believed that the largest city in terms of area in the world is the Chinese city of Chongqing. The territory it occupies is huge. But this is measurement data including suburbs and villages; there is no continuous development in this territory and the population density is only 373 people/km². And its urbanized area is only 1473 km². That is why it cannot fully be called the largest city in the world. The population of this administrative unit is 30,751,600 people.
- Hangzhou (China) - 16847 km². Second among all cities in the world in terms of territory. Hangzhou is located on the east coast of China. It is inhabited by 8.7 million inhabitants.
- Beijing (China) - 16411 sq. km. Located in the east of the country, the most dynamically developing center of China - GDP growth from 2005 to 2013. amounted to 65%. That is why it is home to a huge number of labor migrants - over 10 million illegal immigrants.
- Brisbane (Australia) - 15826 sq. km. Located on the east coast of Australia. Brisbane is very cosmopolitan, with 21% of its population made up of foreigners.
- Asmara (Eritrea) - 15061 sq. km. Despite the vast territory of the African capital, its population is only 649,000, because most of it is occupied by low-rise buildings.
The largest cities in the world by area
To the list of the largest urban agglomerations and conurbations included both beautiful cities with a rich history and many attractions, as well as the greatest industrial centers.
Conurbation - an urban agglomeration without a clear dominant center.
Largest urban agglomerations by area:
- . The largest agglomeration on the planet in terms of area, it occupies 11,875 square kilometers. The financial capital of America and the state of the same name.
- Boston - Providence, USA. With all suburbs - 9189 sq. km.
- Tokyo - Yokohama, Japan (Tokyo-capital). Agglomeration largest cities Japan is located over a large area - 8547 km².
- Atlanta. This American city with its agglomeration is located on 7296 square kilometers. It is the capital and largest city of the state of Georgia.
- Chicago. Together with the suburbs it occupies 6856 km². It is the second most important financial center in the United States.
- Los Angeles. The American city with surrounding territories is located on 6299 sq. km. Capital of the state of California.
- Moscow, Russia. The Moscow agglomeration with all its suburbs of continuous development occupies 5,698 square kilometers.
- Dallas - Fort Worth. Represents conurbation of many small cities, is located on 5175 square kilometers.
- Philadelphia. 5131 sq. km.
- Houston, USA. 4841 square kilometers.
- Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China. Quite a long city - 4144 sq. km.
- Shanghai, China. 4015 sq. km.
- Nagoya, Japan. 3885 sq. km.
- Guangzhou - Foshan, China. 3820 sq. km
- Washington, USA. The capital of America covers an area of 3,424 square kilometers.
Largest cities by population density
Every year urban overpopulation problem is becoming more and more acute. Over the past 20 years, Southeast Asia's largest cities have seen population growth average more than two percent per year. Which city surpasses all others in terms of population density? We have compiled information on this subject in the following list.
Top 10 largest cities by population density:
- Manila, capital of the Philippines. It is the most densely populated city in the world - 43,079 people/km², and in one of the districts this figure reaches 68,266 people/km². Moreover, more than 60% of the population lives in urban slums.
- Calcutta, India. The population density is 27,462 per square kilometer. Over the past 10 years, the number of residents has decreased by 2%. A third of them live in urban slums.
- Chennai, India. Density - 24,418 people per square kilometer. A quarter of all residents live in slums.
- Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. 23,234 people per square kilometer. The annual population growth is 4.2%, which is one of the highest rates in the world.
- Mumbai, India. 20694 The standard of living here is slightly higher than in other cities in the country. Therefore, population growth is predictable.
- Seoul, capital South Korea. This city is also densely populated - 16,626 people/km². The capital of Korea is home to 19.5% of the country's total population.
- Jakarta, capital of Indonesia. 14,469 people/km² Back in the 80s, the density was 8,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, and by 2018 it had almost doubled.
- Lagos, Nigeria. 13,128 people per km².
- Tehran, capital of Iran. 10456 inhabitants per 1 square kilometer.
- Taipei, capital of the Republic of China (Taiwan). 9951 people per km².
Video about the largest cities
In the nineteenth or even early twentieth centuries, visiting the world's largest cities was easy. Both in terms of area and population. Travelers knew that these were capitals - London, New York, Paris, Berlin. And in Russia this was St. Petersburg.
Less than two hundred years have passed. In such a short period of time the rating has changed.
Thanks to accelerated development, cities in former “developing” countries have taken first place. For tourists dreaming of visiting the planet's mega-cities, new top lists will have to be considered.
Each of them has different customs and history. Even newly established urban settlements have their own legends. Like, for example, the “ghost town” of Ordos, which occupies an area of more than 86 thousand kilometers...
The tour “The Largest Cities on Earth” will begin in China.
1. Chongqing – a city of fantasy come to life
In size it is comparable to Austria, which is not the smallest country in Europe. Its area is almost 82,500 km², but construction continues... and in height too.
Chongqing is reminiscent of science fiction films from Hollywood producers. Multi-storey road junctions and crossings; dozens of new bridges; overpasses on stilts along the banks. And just a little bit of nostalgia - small old houses for tourists.
The construction of the city’s “calling card” - Raffles Citi Changqing - will soon be completed. The final part of this complex will be a horizontal skyscraper designed by Canadian Moshe Safdie. A building 300 meters long will be raised to a height of 250 meters.
It is difficult to travel around this giant on foot (or even by bicycle).
2. City of tea and corporations Hangzhou
Almost five times smaller than Chongqing (area - 16,840 km²). The first became the capital of China. Back in 1200, the population ranged from 860 thousand to one million people. And Marco Polo called it “the most beautiful and luxurious” in the world.
A paradise for travel - West Lake, tea plantations, about seven dozen ancient attractions. All this against the backdrop of beautiful nature.
Hangzhou is famous for its annual business exhibitions in various industries. It is described as a city of “thousand corporations.”
3. Capital of China Beijing
The northern capital has been renamed several times over its centuries-old existence. Only in the twenty-first year of the fifteenth century did the capital of China begin to be called Beijing. The city ranks third in area - 16,808 square kilometers.
Of course, the main attraction is the world's largest palace complex, which is called the Purple Forbidden City. The capital of China is an ancient city. Therefore, there are many amazing places worth visiting.
4. “Woke” Brisbane
This Australian city covers 15,800 km². Brisbane is gradually becoming one of the best places to live and visit in Australia. There are no fewer skyscrapers there than in New York.
And regarding natural beauties, national parks and “living” attractions surpasses many cities in the world.
Relatively recently, it was a rather boring and sleepy town. Now, in order to get around all the remarkable places, it is worth acquiring the recently published “City Guide”.
5. “Brocade City” Jincheng
Again - the Chinese city of Chengdu, which has grown by 14,400 km². The province of Sichuan became the capital back in the seventeenth century.
Although the city's main river is Fuhe, the more famous and romantic “Brocade River” - Jinjiang - flows close to the center. Along its picturesque embankments there are many teahouses where you can relax and drink a traditional Chinese drink.
The hallmarks of Chengdu are giant pandas, the famous culinary school and brocade fabrics. But this is a small part of the collection of attractions that make the city attractive to tourists.
When choosing a tour to the DPRK, you should worry about a tour of this city.
The second largest on the Australian continent - 12,400 km². At the same time, it is the capital of the country. It is unique in that in 1788 it became the first European settlement on an unexplored continent. Thanks to a large number emigrants, culture, traditions, culinary arts of the city are multinational.
7. African city of Asmara
On the opposite side of the planet, Asmara occupies almost the same area - 12,158 km². In terms of the number of inhabitants, the city is small - less than seven hundred thousand.
What will be interesting for travelers there?
- Firstly, this is Africa;
- mountain climate;
- beautiful landscapes;
- National Museum and Opera;
- The cathedral with a bell tower 52 meters high, built by the architect Scavanini....
There is a lot to see in this city. You can relax in a cozy restaurant or cafe. Drink coffee, try local dishes.
Asmara is called the safest for tourists on the Black Continent.
On an area of 11700 square meters ancient traditional crafts, ancient monuments, modern technological enterprises and the Chinese “silicon valley”, where the Tianhe-1 supercomputer has been operating since 2011, “coexist”. In 2018, in May, the world was presented new development, which has no analogues in the world - “Tianhe-3”.
Tianjin's museums are considered the best in China, and the Ferris Wheel is the largest. Tourists especially love the city Water Park, which consists of three lakes on which there are nine islands. The cleanliness of the city streets is amazing.
9. Melbourne is the southernmost metropolis in the world
In Australia, this city is considered the cultural and sports capital. It is also the capital of the state of Victoria. Covers an area of 9,990 km².
In 2018, Melbourne took first place in the “Best City to Live” ranking (The Economist magazine) based on the following indicators:
- security level;
- quality of health care;
- ecological state;
- variety of cultural recreation;
- infrastructure development.
10. Kinshasa - former Leopoldville
Capital of Congo. The area is 25 km² smaller than Melbourne (9,965 km²). Let's clarify - we are talking about Democratic Republic Congo (there is also simply the Republic of the Congo with the capital Brazzaville).
When traveling around Africa, you should always take into account its “contrasts”. Kinshasa is no exception. It is better to avoid the western areas of the city (Kimbansek, Masina, Limet).
But the city center is a modern metropolis, which is divided into three parts. In the old quarter of Quintambo you can forget that this is Africa. Everything there is “immersed in greenery”, beautiful parks and gardens.
Gombe is also considered safe. Those who work in the area are called "enlightened" ("evolue"). One of the specializations is diamond trading.
Once upon a time, the principle worked - the larger the city, the more citizens live there. Now these indicators do not match, with one exception.
The largest cities in the world by population (top 10)
China ranks first in the world not only in terms of total population. In the ranking of the “best” cities”, first place also belongs to this country. So we start our rating review again with China.
1.Chongqing
The city is in first place, both in terms of area and crowdedness.
This city is home to the largest number of citizens - 30,751,600 people.
The Pakistani city of Karachi has a population of 24,300,000 inhabitants. It is for this reason that he ranks second.
Since the urban area is not very large - three and a half thousand square kilometers - the city is not in last place in terms of density. Until 1958, Karachi was the capital of an independent state.
Now it is simply the largest metropolis of Pakistan, into which a small fishing village has turned in less than two hundred years. Due to overpopulation, the city's infrastructure is overloaded. Many of the arriving emigrants are forced to settle in Katchi Abadi. This is the name given to local slums where there are no communications or water.
Not very comfortable for tourists. It is considered the center of the international drug trade.
An agglomerate where more than 24 million people live. One of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the DPRK. It surprisingly combines the charm of the East and the chic of old Europe.
4. Capital of China Beijing
It ranks only fourth in the world in terms of population. A total of 21,705,000 people, which is one and a half times less than in Chongqing.
The capital of Delhi is located in northern India. The second largest city in the country by area, but the first by number of inhabitants - about 18 million people.
To explore the sights of Delhi without missing anything, it is better to book a tour. The New and Old Towns contrast strongly with each other.
You won’t immediately believe that all this is one city:
- modern skyscrapers;
- Lotus Temple, built at the end of the twentieth century;
- commercial center at Connaught Square;
- Jantar Mantar;
- old streets;
- dirty neighborhoods
The city, with a population of 15,469,500 people, ranks sixth on this list. And in China it has the fifth largest number of inhabitants.
Another place in the “Top 10” is occupied by a Chinese city. Guangzhou has slightly fewer residents - 14,043,500.
The city is also one of the largest agglomerations in terms of population. The capital of Japan is home to 13.7 million people. But there are two more Tokyos:
Greater Tokyo is an expanded version of the capital. It includes the capital itself and Tokyo Prefecture. “Tokyo metropolitan area”, consisting of Greater Tokyo and more than eighty cities. More often this option is called the Keihin agglomeration (more than 38 million people).
Tours of Tokyo begin from the Imperial Palace. And then - from ancient two-story houses among greenery to skyscrapers, urban landscapes, neon signs, multi-story highways... Then - again antiquity, temples, nature.
We won’t even talk about the fact that Tokyo is the capital of nanotechnology.
It’s better to remember that recently this city has also become the “new capital of fashion.” The main fashion district is Harajuku.
Tourists need to be careful in this place. Along with simply fashionable things, you can’t help yourself and buy some of the “crazy” things, like:
- striped socks with separate toes;
- Lolita style outfit;
- T-shirts with an unidentified acid-colored monster...
Moscow is also a metropolis. Its multiethnic population of 12,506,468 people puts it in ninth place in this ranking.
« Business card» - Red Square with the Kremlin and State Historical Museum and St. Basil's Cathedral. This is one of the most beautiful capitals on the planet.
10. Bombay
Last on the list will be Bombay. Since 1995, it received a new name - Mumbai. The “pure” urban population is 12,442,373 people. This is the capital of the state with the amazing name Maharashtra.
Mumbai is a city of splendor and grandeur... poverty and garbage... religious problems and terrible ecology... There is an incredible mixture of cultures and architectural styles. On the one hand, it is the business and financial capital of India. On the other hand, there are ethnic strife.
In the center of Bombay is the Gateway to India - the symbol of the country. And the second gate is the railway station, which is a beautiful monument of architecture from the time of Queen Victoria.
A holiday in this city will not be calm and quiet. But when traveling around India, you should definitely visit it.
Summary table - the largest cities in the world by area and population
For ease of perception, all information from the article is compiled into one table below. By clicking on the column header, the data can be sorted both by the city’s position in the ranking and by its name.
| Place in the ranking | Largest cities by area | Largest cities by population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chongqing - 82,500 km² | Chongqing - 30.75 million people |
| 2 | Hangzhou - 16,840 km² | Karachi - 24.3 million people |
| 3 | Beijing - 16,808 km² | Shanghai - 24 million people |
| 4 | Brisbane - 15,800 km² | Beijing - 21.7 million people |
| 5 | Jincheng - 14,400 km² | Delhi - 18 million people |
| 6 | Sydney - 12,400 km² | Tianjin - 15.47 million people |
| 7 | Asmara - 12,158 km² | Guangzhou - 14.04 million people |
| 8 | Tianjin - 11,700 km² | Tokyo - 13.7 million people |
| 9 | Melbourne - 9,990 km² | Moscow - 12.51 million people |
| 10 | Kinshasa - 9,965 km² |
Do you know what is the largest city in the world?
Let those who don’t know try to guess, and those who know - I’ll give you a separate answer option - “I won’t guess, I know!” Let’s start...
What is the largest city in the WORLD?
9 (5.0 % )
2 (1.1 % )
28 (15.5 % )
7 (3.9 % )
25 (13.8 % )
Buenos Aires
6 (3.3 % )
2 (1.1 % )
10 (5.5 % )
81 (44.8 % )
I won't guess, I KNOW!
11 (6.1 % )
Now let's find out the history of the largest city in the world...
Tokyo is the city that everyone who comes to Japan wants to see first in any case. A huge metropolis, with a population of 12 million people, it is one of the youngest of all major Japanese cities.
The word "Tokyo" translated from Japanese means "Eastern Capital". The city bearing this name is the capital of Japan and is an agglomeration located in the Kanto region, in the east of the main Japanese island of Honshu. It consists of 23 districts on the territory of the former independent administrative unit - Tokyo city. In 1943, the city of Tokyo was abolished as an administrative unit. Now these districts, together with the cities and municipalities of the western Tama region, as well as the southern islands of Izu and Ogasawara, form Tokyo Prefecture.
Archaeological excavations indicate that the place where the capital of Japan is now located was inhabited by ancient tribes back in the Stone Age. The early inhabitants of the Jomon period (10,000 BC) were fishermen, hunters, and farmers. This valley of abundance has now been swallowed up by a huge city on the shores of Tokyo Bay.
By 300, Japan was already more or less a single nation. The main life was concentrated in the Kansai region, where the cities of Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka are currently located. The eastern region of Kanto remained a distant, quiet backwater, forgotten by gods and people. It was not until the 12th century that a small Edo village was built on this site. The people who lived in these places were mainly engaged in fishing and actually lived on subsistence farming.
In 1457, on the site where the Eastern Garden of the Imperial Palace is now located, Ota Dokan began building a castle on the site of an old fort near the small Hibiya Bay. Ten years later, the devastating Onin War raged on the streets of the capital city of Kyoto. Many aristocrats left the capital and took refuge in the far eastern domains of Dokan. Even then, all the prerequisites were created for the transformation of the poor Edo village into a city, but Ota Dokan was killed, and his contribution to the development of the region was wasted.
But Tokyo in the 50s
h ttp://master ok.zh.rf on Yandex.Photos
In 1543, Portuguese missionaries and traders first set foot on Japanese soil. By that time, the feudal lords (daimyo) had turned the country into a patchwork of independent provinces. One of the most powerful daimyos, Oda Nobunaga from Chubu Province, where the city of Nagoya is now located, quickly realized that the Portuguese could serve his ambitious plans in the struggle for power. The new religion - Christianity could be used in the fight against the power of Buddhist monks, in addition, Nobunaga found widespread use of firearms that the Portuguese brought with them. Oda was killed in 1581, but by that time he had managed to unite most of central Japan under his influence.
Nobunaga's work was continued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but he did not look so favorably on the spread of Christianity, organizing the persecution of its representatives.
The power of Toyotomi tried to challenge Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was the son of a dayyo who served the Oda clan, however, after an unsuccessful attempt, he concluded a truce with Toyotomi, for which he received eight provinces in the eastern region, including the entire Kanto region with the town of Edo. Toyotomi tried to weaken Tokugawa's influence in this way by excommunicating him from his native lands of Chubu Province, but Tokugawa took this gift as an opportunity to strengthen his power and decided to turn Edo into a real city.
After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1598, power passed to his son, Toyotomi Hideyori. Tokugawa, having overthrown the heir and his followers in legendary battle under Sekigahara in 1600, seized real power. In 1603, the emperor awarded him the title of shogun (military ruler). The Tokugawa chose Edo as his capital, beginning the two-hundred-and-fifty-year reign of the Tokugawa clan known in Japanese history as the "Edo period" (1603-1868).
Under the Tokugawa shoguns, Edo developed at an unprecedented pace. Completed in 1637, Edo-jo Castle became the largest castle in the world during Ieyasu's lifetime. The Tokugawa seized power in the country for a long time. However, they wanted to be completely sure that not a single daimyo (as the rich feudal princes of that time were called) in a remote province could gain a foothold and become rich enough to usurp power. After all, this is what Tokugawa Ieyasu himself did in his time. The sankin kotai system was established, according to which each daimyo was required to live in Edo for a certain number of months a year “in front of” the shogun. Further, more. When the feudal lord left for his province to put his personal affairs in order, he was obliged to leave his family in the capital, practically as hostages.
In the 17th century there were 270 daimyo in Japan, each maintaining several houses in Edo for family members and retinues, the opulent houses complemented by elaborate and extraordinarily expensive landscape gardens. Naturally, spending a huge amount of time and money on traveling back and forth, on maintaining luxury residences both in the province and in Edo, it was difficult for the daimyo to plot anything against the shogun.
To satisfy the needs of this entire crowd of princes, samurai, and their servants, led by the shogun, traders and artisans from all over Japan rushed to the new capital. To settle them all, hills were torn down and swampy areas were filled with this earth, forming what is now called Ginza, Shimbashi and Nihombashi. By 1787, the population had risen to 1.3 million, and Edo had become one of the largest cities on Earth.
The shogunal government considered the spread of “free” ideas coming from the West, and primarily Christianity, dangerous. In addition, international trade was capable of uncontrollably enriching some daimyo. In 1633, the Tokugawa shogunate adopted a policy of complete isolation, slamming the country's doors to outside world for more than 200 years. Foreigners were prohibited from entering the country and Japanese were prohibited from leaving it. The one who violated this decree was waiting death penalty. The only exception was a colony of tightly controlled Chinese traders in Nagasaki, and a handful of Dutch who were given a small trading post on a tiny island in Nagasaki.
The Edo period (1603-1867) was characterized by political stability, the country was completely controlled by the shogunate. Japanese society was divided into four classes: samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants. The manner of dressing, the neighborhoods to live in, and even turns of speech were strictly regulated, and moving from class to class was prohibited.
METRO scheme
The city was divided into two parts: the Upper City (Yamanote) and the Lower City (Shitamachi). Yamanote, which means “hand of the mountains,” was home to the wealthy daimyo and their samurai, while the lower strata of society, which included merchants and artisans, inhabited the “lower city” of Shitamachi. Residents of Shitamachi and neighboring neighborhoods lived in dirty, squalid, closely packed plywood buildings with dirt floors.
Since Edo was largely made of wood, it goes without saying that fires, which the locals bitterly called Edo-no-hana (Edo flowers), were a constant threat. In fact, it would be difficult to find a person who did not lose his home several times during his life. During the period 1603-1867, almost 100 major fires swept through the city, not counting countless local fires. One of the most tragic fires occurred in 1657 after three months of heat without a single rain. Swept by a strong wind, the flames consumed wooden buildings with thatched roofs one after another. The fire raged for three days and destroyed three quarters of the city. More than 100,000 people died then.
Despite their unenviable social position, the prosperity of the merchants grew steadily. They were forbidden to show off their wealth or to partake in the joys of life available only to samurai. In particular, they did not have the right to use the services of geishas. However, the money had to be spent somewhere. New types of luxury goods and new entertainment began to appear. Kabuki theater very quickly gained extraordinary popularity, and new look paintings on wooden tablets, Ukiyo-e engravings, expensive porcelain tableware, silk brocade for luxurious kimonos, lacquerware - all this was raised to the level of sublime art.
One of distinctive features At that time there were entertainment districts where samurai could find wine and women prohibited in Yamanote. The most legendary area was the Yoshiwara area, northeast of the current Asakusa area. Here the rich spent time with beautiful courtesans. During the Edo period, prostitution was legalized and, like everything else in feudal Japan, strictly controlled by the Tokugawa shogunate. Red light districts sprang up in various areas of Edo, but none could compete with Yoshiwara. Opened in 1657 in the middle of rice fields, far outside the city gates, Yoshiwara was a real "pleasure factory": about 3,000 courtesans worked here. They say that they were so skillful that men stayed with them for several days and, having lost their heads, often left entire fortunes here.
Many of these women, such as the famous courtesan named Tayu, were beautiful in their luxurious robes, weighing about 20 kg, including a huge obi (belt) tied in the front. Of course, not all of them voluntarily embarked on this path in the hope of getting rich: many were sold to brothels in early age. To prevent these unfortunates from escaping, the area was surrounded by a moat of water, and entry or exit was possible only through a guarded gate. Courtesans were only allowed to leave the area once a year during the autumn festival. These "prisoners" were released only in 1900. The Yoshiwara district itself ceased to exist in 1957, when prostitution was banned in the country.
Another feature of Edo that has left its mark on today's Tokyo was the division of the large city into "machi" districts based on professional affiliation. Even today it is possible to stumble upon small enclaves that have a certain specialization. The most famous of them are Jimbocho, a quarter bookstores; Kappabashi, which sells kitchen utensils, and Akihabara, which now sells electronics and manga comics, and was previously a small retail and freight hub.
By the middle of the 19th century, it became clear that the feudal system had outlived its usefulness. Economic power by that time it was concentrated in the hands of traders, money gradually entered into circulation more and more, along with rice. Many samurai clans went bankrupt and were dissatisfied with the policies of the shogunate.
Transforming Edo from a medieval city into a world-class capital required an outside push. This push came in 1854 with the American "black squadron" under the command of Matthew Perry. This military expedition arrived in Edo-wan (Tokyo Bay) on behalf of the President of the United States to demand the opening of Japan to international trade after centuries of isolation. Other Western countries soon followed the Americans. Forces dissatisfied with the regime of the Tokugawa dynasty took advantage of Western influence. In 1868, the 15th shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty was forced to abdicate power in favor of Emperor Mutsuhito (Meiji). The new Meiji government moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo Castle, renaming the city Tokyo (Eastern Capital).
This event was called the Meiji Restoration, since power again passed from the military to the emperor, and the country again received a single capital. Emperor Mutsuhito completely changed state policy, welcoming the export of ideas and technology from the West.
The Meiji Restoration was not a peaceful transfer of power. In Edo, about 2,000 adherents of the Tokugawa regime tried to resist the forces imperial guard in the short Battle of Ueno. The battle took place in the vicinity of the picturesque Kanei-ji Temple, which, along with Zojo-ji, was one of the two family temples of the Tokugawa clan.
The word Meiji means "enlightenment", and the new rulers of Japan set a course for industrialization and militarization of society. In a relatively short time, known as the Meiji period (1868-1911), the country quickly moved from feudal society samurai and peasants into an industrial state. Samurai lost their power and privileges and were no longer allowed to carry swords. A government cabinet headed by a prime minister was created, a new constitution was drawn up (1889) and a parliament (Diet) was elected. The first ones were built railways(1872). At the invitation of the government, more than 10,000 specialists from England, the USA, Germany, and France came to Tokyo to transform the country into a modern society.
A modernization boom has begun in Tokyo. Everything changed: fashion, architecture, food, shops. For a while, everything Japanese was completely forgotten and pushed aside.
In record time, Japan won its first military victories over China (1894-95) and Russia (1904-05) and embarked on the path Western empires with the annexation of Taiwan (1895), Korea (1910) and Micronesia (1914).
Taking the path of nationalism, Japan turned Shinto into a chauvinistic state religion. Buddhism was persecuted by the state at that time, and many priceless artifacts and temples were destroyed.
During the Meiji period and the subsequent Taisho period, the changes that took place throughout the country were most noticeable in the new capital. The rapid industrialization of Tokyo, the unification around the emerging huge industrial and trading conglomerate (zaibatsu), attracted job seekers people from all over Japan, which led to rapid population growth. Electricity arrived in Tokyo in the 1880s. Formerly dirty neighborhoods were transformed into fashionable areas, such as Ginza, where the construction of brick buildings, new to the country, was carried out. In 1904, Mitsukoshi, the first Western-style Japanese department store, appeared, and the department store building in the Nihonbashi area (1914) was called the most grandiose building east of the Suez Canal.
However, although the Meiji Restoration sounded the death knell for the former Edo, two more events lay ahead that would erase the remaining traces of the old city. In the first half of the 20th century, Tokyo was almost completely destroyed twice: in 1923, the city was hit by a powerful earthquake (about 8 on the Richter scale), known as the Great Kanto Earthquake. Even more terrible than the tremors themselves was the fire that followed the earthquake, which lasted 40 hours and devastated the city, destroying about 300,000 houses. The disaster left behind 142,000 victims. Grim reminders of this event can be seen at the Kanto Earthquake Memorial Museum.
The city's reconstruction began almost immediately, following the wisdom that any business that did not resume operations within three days of the collapse had no future.
The second time a terrible disaster befell Tokyo was at the end of World War II: Allied bombs wiped out half the city, killing another 100,000 people.
Since the beginning of the reign of Emperor Hirohito (Showa Tenno) in 1926, Japanese society has been characterized by a rising tide of nationalist fervor. In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, and in 1937 embarked on the path of open confrontation with China. In 1940, a tripartite agreement was signed with Germany and Italy and a new order for the Asian region was formulated: the Greater East Asian Mutual Prosperity Sphere. The project was based on the desire to create "a bloc of Asian peoples, led by Japan, and free from Western powers." On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, thereby declaring war on the United States, their principal enemy in the Asia-Pacific region.
Despite initial successes, the war had disastrous consequences for Japan. On April 18, 1942, the first bombs fell on Tokyo. On the night of March 9-10, 1944, the city was subjected to an unprecedented raid, during which 2/5 of the capital was destroyed, almost the entire area of the “lower city” Shitamachi” was turned into ruins. About 80,000 people died that night. Later, the Sensoji Buddhist Temple in Asakusa and the Meji Jingu Shinto Shrine were bombed. On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito made a historic statement to the Japanese people about Japan's surrender. By this time, Tokyo was practically destroyed.
In 1943, the city of Tokyo was abolished as an administrative unit. During World War II, on November 24, 1944, the United States began bombing Tokyo. On February 25 and March 10, 1945, American bombers carried out heavy bombing attacks on the city. Entire areas of the city with traditional wooden architecture were destroyed and burned, killing over 100 thousand people. The historic imperial palace was also destroyed.
From September 1945 to April 1952, the city was occupied by American troops. Opposite the imperial palace was the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur, who, as commander-in-chief of the Allied forces, led the occupation authorities. Tokyo then entered a period of rapid recovery and economic growth, which became especially intense after the outbreak of the Korean War.
The restoration of the Japanese capital from the ashes of World War II was like a miracle. True, Tokyo residents, again, as after the Great Kanto Earthquake, did not take advantage of the opportunity for a global reconstruction of the city to make the avenues and streets wider and more elegant, as happened, for example, in Nagoya, but built new houses on the site of old buildings.
During the occupation by American troops in the first post-war years, Tokyo resembled a huge cheap nightclub. Today's respectable areas such as Yurakucho were filled with so-called pan-pan girls (prostitutes), and the areas of Ikebukuro and Ueno became black market areas. A reminder of this can still be found at the Ameyoko Arcade in Ueno, where something like a cheap bazaar is still located.
Tokyo was recovering at an unprecedented pace, especially in the central regions. Tokyo residents were especially proud of hosting the 1964 Summer Olympics. During the preparation period, the city was engulfed in unprecedented construction. Many Japanese view this time as a turning point in the nation's history, with Japan fully recovering from the devastation of World War II to become a full member of the modern world economy.
Construction and modernization continued at a breakneck pace throughout the 70s, peaking towards the end of the 1980s, with rising property prices. The cost of land in Tokyo by that time exceeded the cost of the entire United States, and Japanese companies, enriched by real estate speculation, began to buy up many famous world entertainment brands, including the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course, Rockefeller Center, and the Columbia film studio. Pictures. By the early 1990s, the bubble burst and the Japanese economy experienced a long recession for more than 15 years.
The main problem of Tokyo and all of Japan is the decreasing birth rate and high population concentration. According to a published report in 2011, the birth rate has fallen again, falling to its lowest level since the Second World War, and in the capital it is even lower than the national average. The difference between mortality and birth rates exceeded 200,000 people. , at the same time, the percentage of the population of retirement age is steadily growing, which increases the burden of the social insurance and pension system. According to Japan's Ministry of National Affairs, in 2011, pensioners for the first time made up 23.3% of the country's total population. There are 21 million Japanese people over 70 years of age, and 8.66 million people over 80 years of age.
Despite the existing difficulties, Tokyo continues to develop dynamically. New subway lines and new mega-complexes like Tokyo Midtown are popping up. Modern Tokyo is a huge metropolis made of glass, concrete and steel, like all major cities in the world, looking like a huge anthill. A person who comes here for the first time unwittingly gets lost in this stone labyrinth. And yet, Tokyo can be unusually cozy if you turn away from the avenues crowded with cars and find yourself in one of the many gardens or parks, sandwiched between houses pressed closely together.
They say Tokyo has no face. Or maybe that’s part of its appeal: it can be different, changing at every step. History and modernity, traditions and Western innovations live here side by side, not interfering, but on the contrary, complementing each other and making this city unusually interesting and original.
WITH modern history Tokyo city One tragic event is connected: on March 20, 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo sect committed a terrorist attack using sarin gas in the Tokyo subway. In this case, 13 people were killed and over 6,200 people were injured.
According to the list of the most expensive cities to live as of 2009, which was published by the American financial and economic magazine Forbes, Tokyo is the most expensive city peace.
Cities are usually measured by two parameters: number of inhabitants and area. The largest number of people live in the capital of Japan, Tokyo - 34 million. In second place is Mexico City (Mexico). And in third is New York (USA). But this ranking was compiled taking into account people who live in the suburbs and satellite cities. If you do not count them, then the picture changes. In this case, the South Korean city of Seoul becomes the largest city (10 million 231 thousand people), followed by Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Bombay (India). As for the territory occupied by the city, London is the leader here. Its area is 1580 square meters. In second place is Mexico City. Its area is 1547 square kilometers. This represents 0.5% of the area of all of Mexico. And in third is Los Angeles (1206 square kilometers). The largest city in Russia is Moscow. Its area is 931 square kilometers and its population is 10 million people.
Tokyo is the largest city in the world, the capital of Japan, the only giant city in the world, containing over 40% of the country's population. The population continues to grow. The average population density is 800-1000 people. per 1 sq. km. According to the World Urbanization Prospects Revision (2007), this largest metropolis, as the most densely populated metropolitan area, will continue to remain Number One.
Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture, which consists of 23 administrative districts, 26 cities, 7 towns and 8 villages, as well as the islands of Ogasawara and Izu, is located on the Kanto Plain on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshu.
Of course, the title of the largest city is very precarious - it depends on how you count it. There are many different ratings and options on the Internet. But I stopped for example at this
Every country in the world has large and small, provincial and developed, tourist and unknown cities. They are all unique and beautiful in their own way. But what is the largest city in the world? What makes it special? Let's find out in the article.
Developed infrastructure, attractions, skyscrapers and shopping centers - this is what the largest cities in the world are famous for. This general characteristics megacities. Of course, each of them has its own secrets and interesting stories.
Here is a list of the largest cities in the world by area:
Ordos (86,752 km²)
The mysterious city is located in the province Inner Mongolia, and was built by the Chinese authorities. The huge metropolis is rich in high-rise buildings, shopping centers, museums, there is even a race track. The only thing Ordos lacks is population.
Buses without people walk along the deserted streets of the ghost town, and there are bicycles for rent on the sidewalks. Only there is no one to enjoy the benefits of civilization. Absurd? No, the decision of the local authorities.
About 20 years ago, the area was famous for coal mining, so officials invested in a large city of the future, designed for 1 million inhabitants. According to the plan, this is a new cultural and economic center. In reality, it is a desert metropolis where up to 100,000 people live.
People did not want to move to Ordos because of high property taxes. Therefore, the main population of the city is migrant builders and officials. There are municipal employees on the streets sweeping empty sidewalks. The urban planning disaster for the local authorities turned into good tourist attendance.
Chongqing (82,400 km²)
The largest city in the world is located in China. It is distinguished by its large population (about 32 million people) and ancient architecture. Chongqing was founded more than 3 thousand years ago. It’s amazing how a huge metropolis has grown from a village surrounded by a palisade.
Today Chongqing is a major commercial center in China. There are about four hundred factories here, aimed at producing car parts. The chemical and metallurgical industries are also developed. The city is a world leader in the production of medicines.
Chongqing is famous not only for its industry, but also for its architecture. The main asset is the Chaotianmen Arch Bridge with the longest span in the world. The Yangtze River flows through the city, across which there are 25 bridges.
The metropolis is developing very quickly. Old buildings are being actively demolished and new high-rises are being built. Multi-level overpasses entangled the city. The local population practically does not speak English, so a tourist without knowledge of Chinese will have a difficult time.
Mount Isa (43,310 km²)
The city is located in a semi-desert part of Australia. Despite its huge area, Mount Isa is located far from other populated areas. But this did not prevent the settlement - 21,570 people live here.
In 1923, gold prospector John Campbell explored the continent and discovered deposits of non-ferrous metals in rocky rocks near the Leichhardt River.
Soon people took over the wilderness. Mount Isa grew and became divided into two parts by the river. Residential buildings are located on the eastern bank, and industrial enterprises are located on the western bank.
In 1959, residents decided to glorify the city and organized a rodeo. Since then, the largest competitions in Australia have been held here, attracting athletes from all over the world.
Hangzhou (16,840 km²)
The Chinese city is also called heaven on earth. Despite the rapid development and population growth (8.7 million people), Hangzhou is surrounded by flowers and greenery. This is where the sea begins silk road, and a silk museum has been operating near Yu Han Mountain since 1992.
The large religious center still harvests tea by hand and produces bamboo products. The pearl of the city is Lake Xihu, which has been a UNESCO heritage site since 2011. The reservoir is surrounded by magnificent scenery, museums and the famous Luheta Pagoda. In ancient times, bells rang here to warn the population of the approaching enemy.
The largest city in the world specializes in light industry. Hangzhou is also famous for the Lingyin Soul Refuge Temple. The Buddhist monastery is famous for its rock reliefs and grottoes. Over the past 1600 years it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times.
Hangzhou is a unique combination of a modern metropolis, ancient architecture, and magnificent nature. Residents honor and observe rituals and traditions, and also value manual labor.
Beijing (16,808 km²)
The gigantic capital of China has 21,705 million inhabitants. Ancient city in the 13th century it was burned by Genghis Khan and rebuilt again 43 years later. Now this bustling metropolis is crowded with cars and people. It seems that the Chinese never sleep. This is the special charm of Beijing.
The big city of the world is a major railway and road junction of the country. In 2008 local authorities held the Olympic Games worth $44 billion. In 2022, Beijing will again organize the Winter Olympics.
The city has the largest square in the world, Tiananmen, whose size is 440 thousand m². The Chinese national flag is raised here every day. Also in Beijing is the emperor's palace, the Forbidden City. On its territory there are 980 buildings containing 9999 rooms.
In addition to its interesting architecture, the city is known for its high degree of air pollution. The norm was exceeded five times. This is due to emissions from factories and vehicles, and traffic is often paralyzed by sandstorms.
Brisbane (15,826 km²)
In Australia, the sunny city of Brisbane is located - the capital of the state of Queensland. The obvious advantage of the central part of the state is the absence of heavy industry. Therefore, the metropolis has clean air.
The excellent climate and abundance of vegetation attract more and more tourists to Brisbane, who stay here to live. Therefore, the city ranks second in Australia in terms of population growth. The population is more than 2 million people and increases by 5.11% every year.
Brisbane, and formerly Edenglassie, was founded in 1824 as a penal colony. Until 1842 the area was closed to settlement. Australians often call the city a large village, since even in the center most buildings are no higher than two floors, and the streets abound with palm trees, eucalyptus, and mango trees.
The main developing industries are agriculture, tourism, hotel business. Just a paradise for migrants from Europe, India and China.
Chengdu (12,390 km²)
The ancient Chinese city was founded back in 311 BC. e. Now the population is 11.5 million people. Chengdu is an important economic, commercial and cultural center of Western China.
Another largest city in the world is the only place where pandas breed. There are nurseries, research centers and panda museums here, which are open to tourists.
The Chengdu market sells a huge number of natural medicines: herbs, roots, infusions and various animal parts. The exotic place will shock visitors.
The city also ranks second in the number of skyscrapers in China, although old buildings with traditional architecture have also been preserved.
Sydney (12,144 km²)
An amazing place where high-rise buildings coexist with the most beautiful beaches in the world. It all started in 1788, when European navigator Arthur Phillip landed on the island’s shores. The settlement was built around the small Sydney Cove. Today it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Australia with a population of 5.13 million people.
Sydney ranks fifth on the list of the most expensive cities in the world. Central NSW is also famous for its rum revolution. In 1808, Governor William Bligh banned the payment of alcoholic beverages to workers, which led to a riot and the removal of the official from office.
Sydney is home to the most famous building in the world - the Opera House, which appears on postcards and is a UNESCO heritage site. Danish architect Jorn Utzon won the right to construct the building from 232 competitors. Instead of the planned $7 million, construction took $102 million and 14 years.
Tianjin (11,760 km²)
Not far from Beijing is the third most populous city in China, Tianjin. Its territory is home to 14.4 million people, including Koreans, Manchus and Mongols.
The big city is actively developing light and heavy industry. In Tianjin, life flows more calmly and measuredly than in Beijing, and each district is imbued with a special charm. The pearl of the city is the China Porcelain House.
Tianjin is also famous for its huge zoo, which includes a water park and other entertainment. The complex is located in the southern part of the city and contains animals from all over the world.
On the streets of Tanjin you can often see men playing cards and mahjong. In the evenings, older women turn on music and go out to dance. The population lives for its own pleasure and enjoys every day.
Melbourne (9,990 km²)
The sporting and cultural capital of Australia is considered the southern millionaire city. 4.5 million people live here. It is the main commercial and industrial artery of the country. According to The Economist magazine, Melbourne is the best place for life.
This is one of the largest cities in the world, where free and liberated people live. One of the popular places in Melbourne is Sand Kild Beach. On coastline There are cafes, pubs and restaurants. The place is also popular among fans of surfing and swimming.
Shopaholics will be surprised and delighted by the Queen Victoria Market, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Here you can find everything from food to souvenirs, jewelry and antiques. Cooking master classes and gastro tours are also often held here.
Big cities around the world are distinguished by their culture and unique flavor. Most of them were founded a long time ago, so they have interesting story development. Be sure to visit the world's megacities and immerse yourself in an exotic paradise.
