This city is world's largest by urban population, not New York, Tokyo, or Delhi

When discussing the largest cities in the world, most people immediately think of sprawling metropolises like Tokyo, New York, or Shanghai. However, Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, deserves a top spot on that list. Known historically as Canton, Guangzhou has emerged as one of the largest and most influential cities globally, both in terms of population and economic power.

Located along the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou is part of the Greater Bay Area, a highly integrated megacity region that includes Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macau. As of 2025, Guangzhou's metropolitan area has a population of over 65 million, when considered as part of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone. Within its official city limits, the population exceeds 15 million, making it one of th