Greetings, everyone!
Hopefully, you already checked out Part One of this countdown. Now, it's time to explore in great detail the top 20 cities via population in the world.
20. Lima, Peru(9,752,000).
This may have come off as a surprise, but we're going back down to South America to kick off the top 20 of this epic list. Interestingly enough, this is our first Peruvian entry on the list.
Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country's arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it's a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. It's home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations. The Plaza de Armas and the 16th-century cathedral are the heart of old Lima Centro.
19. Kinshasha, DR Congo(10,125,000).
How many people honestly expected a Congolese entry on here? Believe it, or not, the first city to crack the ten million milestone is an African Country.
Kinshasa is the capital and the largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is situated alongside the Congo River. Once a site of fishing and trading villages, Kinshasa is now a megacity with an estimated population of more than 11 million.
18. Chengdu, China(10,152,000).
Once again, we have another Chinese entry from a city you've probably never heard of.
Chengdu is the capital of southwestern China's Sichuan province. Chengdu's history dates back to at least the 4th century B.C., when it served as capital for the Shu Kingdom. Artifacts from that dynasty are the focus of the Jinsha Site Museum. The city is also home to the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a conservation center where visitors can view endangered giant pandas in a natural habitat.
17. Seoul, South Korea(10,290,000).
It's time for a big welcome back for South Korea!
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a huge metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets. Notable attractions include futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a convention hall with curving architecture and a rooftop park; Gyeongbokgung Palace, which once had more than 7,000 rooms; and Jogyesa Temple, site of ancient locust and pine trees.
16. Lahore, Pakistan(10,355,000).
I suppose Lahore is one of the few places in Pakistan which isn't bad.
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab. Lahore is the country's second-most populous city and is one of Pakistan's wealthiest cities, with an estimated GDP of $58.14 billion as of 2015.
15. Wuhan, China(10,608,000).
It was only a matter of time before we headed back to China, and this time, it's time for some Wuhan!
Wuhan, the sprawling capital of Central China’s Hubei province, is a commercial center divided by the Yangtze and Han rivers. The city contains many lakes and parks, including expansive, picturesque East Lake. Nearby, the Hubei Provincial Museum displays relics from the Warring States period, including the Marquis Yi of Zeng’s coffin and bronze musical bells from his 5th-century B.C. tomb.
14. Delhi, India(11,035,000).
It's only fitting that the capital of one of the world's largest countries in the world is the first to crack the eleven-million mark.
Delhi is a massive metropolitan area in the country’s north. In Old Delhi, a neighborhood dating to the 1600s, stands the imposing Mughal-era Red Fort, a symbol of India, and the sprawling Jama Masjid mosque, whose courtyard accommodates 25,000 people. Nearby is Chandni Chowk, a vibrant bazaar filled with food carts, sweets shops and spice stalls.
13. Guangzhou, China(11,548,000).
I'm almost China-ed out by now, but let's go ahead.
Guangzhou is a sprawling port city northwest of Hong Kong on the Pearl River. The city features avant-garde architecture such as Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhou Opera House (known as the “double pebble”); the carved box-shaped Guangdong Museum; and the iconic Canton TV Tower skyscraper, resembling a thin hourglass. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a temple complex from 1894, also houses the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum.
12. Shenzen, China(11,908,000).
It looks like Shenzen is on its way to joining another twelve-million(or more) city in China. Yikes!
Shenzhen, in southeastern China, is a modern metropolis that links Hong Kong to China’s mainland. It's known for its shopping destinations, including Luohu Commercial City, a massive mall with a vast array of wares, from tailors’ custom clothing to faux designer bags. The city also features contemporary buildings, such as the 600m-tall skyscraper Ping An International Finance Centre, and a number of amusement parks.
11. Sao Paulo, Brazil(12,038,000).
Whaaat? Another Brazilian entry without it being Brasilia? You got it.
São Paulo, Brazil’s vibrant financial center, is with numerous cultural institutions and a rich architectural tradition. Its iconic buildings range from its neo-Gothic cathedral and the 1929 Martinelli skyscraper to modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer’s curvy Edifício Copan. The colonial-style Pátio do Colégio church marks where Jesuit priests founded the city in 1554.
10. Mumbai(Bombay), India(12,400,000).
Oddly enough, despite the fact the modern day name of this city is Mumbai, there is still an active debate on whether to call it by its former name, Bombay.
Mumbai is a densely populated city on India’s west coast. A financial center, it's India's largest city. On the Mumbai Harbour waterfront stands the iconic Gateway of India stone arch, built by the British Raj in 1924. Offshore, nearby Elephanta Island holds ancient cave temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The city's also famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry.
9. Tianjin, China(12,784,000).
What would a top ten countdown be without China?
Tianjin is a major port city in northeastern China. Following the 1858 Treaties of Tianjin, several Western nations established concessions in Tianjin. The European-style houses, municipal buildings and churches in Wudadao (Five Great Avenues) are legacies of that period. Standing in contrast are the city’s many modern skyscrapers, including the iconic 415m-tall Tianjin Radio and Television Tower.
8. Manila, Philippines(12,877,000).
The only Filipino entry on the entire countdown just happens to be in the top ten.
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is a densely populated bayside city on the island of Luzon, which mixes Spanish colonial architecture with modern skyscrapers. Intramuros, a walled city in colonial times, is the heart of Old Manila. It’s home to the baroque 16th-century San Agustin Church as well as Fort Santiago, a storied citadel and former military prison.
7. Moscow, Russia(13,197,000).
Am I the only one surprised that there aren't more Russian cities on this list?
Moscow, on the Moskva River in western Russia, is the nation’s cosmopolitan capital. In its historic core is the Kremlin, a complex that’s home to the president and tsarist treasures in the Armoury. Outside its walls is Red Square, Russia's symbolic center. It's home to Lenin’s Mausoleum, the State Historical Museum's comprehensive collection and St. Basil’s Cathedral, known for its colorful, onion-shaped domes.
6. Tokyo, Japan(13,617,000).
Let me guess, you already Googled the number one most populated city in the world, and Tokyo popped up as the "biggest city via population". It looks like I have some 'splaining to do, right? While Tokyo, Japan is the world's most populated metro area, it's not the world's most populated city. That is a huge misconception, and it's why Tokyo is often regarded as the world's most populated city.
Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. The opulent Meiji Shinto Shrine is known for its towering gate and surrounding woods. The Imperial Palace sits amid large public gardens. The city's many museums offer exhibits ranging from classical art (in the Tokyo National Museum) to a reconstructed kabuki theater (in the Edo-Tokyo Museum).
5. Dhaka, Bangladesh(14,543,000).
This is another completely unexpected entry. The first Bangladeshian city on this list just happens to be the first city to crack the 14-million mark.
Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh, in southern Asia. Set beside the Buriganga River, it’s at the center of national government, trade and culture. The 17th-century old city was the Mughal capital of Bengal, and many palaces and mosques remain. American architect Louis Khan’s National Parliament House complex typifies the huge, fast-growing modern metropolis.
4. Istanbul, Turkey(14,657,000).
The first Turkish entry on the list; another major surprise on the list.
Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.
3. Karachi, Pakistan(18,000,000).
If there is one thing you'll learn from this countdown, is that Pakistan has more people living there than you could have imagined. We take a huge leap in popularity, and go straight to the 18-million milestone in population(oddly enough, there are no cities in the 15-17 million range).
Karachi; is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and fifth-most-populous city proper in the world. Ranked as a beta-global city, the city is Pakistan's premier industrial and financial centre.
2. Beijing, China(18,590,000).
Let me guess, after the Tokyo reveal, you probably predicted the capital city of the most populated country in the world would also be the most populated city in the world? Nope. But you were close, yet, not close at all(you'll see what I mean).
Beijing, China’s sprawling capital, has history stretching back 3 millennia. Yet it’s known as much for modern architecture as its ancient sites such as the grand Forbidden City complex, the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Nearby, the massive Tiananmen Square pedestrian plaza is the site of Mao Zedong’s mausoleum and the National Museum of China, displaying a vast collection of cultural relics.
The 101 Runner Up...
101. Brasilia, Brazil(2,978,000).
Before I reveal the number one entry, I'm going to reveal the 101st most populated city in the world. In other words, it's the runner-up, or the city that just missed the cut. It just happens to be the capital of Brazil, and contrary to what you probably thought, it's definitely not the most populated city in Brazil, let alone South America.
Brasília, inaugurated as Brazil’s capital in 1960, is a planned city distinguished by its white, modern architecture, chiefly designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Laid out in the shape of an airplane, its “fuselage” is the Monumental Axis, 2 wide avenues flanking a massive park. In the “cockpit” is Praça dos Três Poderes, named for the 3 branches of government surrounding it.
Number 1: Shanghai, China(24,153,000).
Was there any real surprise that the most populated city in the world is located in China? On this note, not only is it the most populated city in the world, but it's the most populated city in the world by a long-shot. It beats out Beijing by an approximate 3.5 million people. Not only is it the only city in the world to crack the 20-million milestone(and 19-million for that matter), it has recently surpassed the 24-million marker. 24 million people. That's triple the the population of New York City. Let that sink in for a moment. It makes me want to watch the movies Shanghai Noon, and Shanghai Knights again.
Shanghai, on China’s central coast, is a global financial hub. Its heart is the Bund, a famed waterfront promenade lined with colonial-era buildings. Across the Huangpu River rises the Pudong district’s futuristic skyline, including 632m Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, with distinctive pink spheres. Sprawling Yu Garden has traditional pavilions, towers and ponds.
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