When people think of massive cities, metropolises like New York and London often spring to mind. But in reality, these aren’t technically the world’s biggest cities. The world is home to several urban centers that far surpass New York City’s population. Yet, they remain relatively unknown to many people.
These cities, often home to tens of millions of people, are economic powerhouses, cultural centers, and sometimes even historical locations that have helped shape the identity of their countries.
These enormous cities might not be in the constant headlines of the Western world, yet each has its own stories to tell:
7. Surat, India
Surat is India’s eighth-largest city by population and covers around 126 square miles. It is located in the state of Gujarat the city seamlessly blends its rich diamond-centric history with modern development.
The city was founded in the late 15th century. Back then, it was a bustling port city that attracted traders from across the globe. Today, it’s often called the ‘Diamond City of the World’ because it is where most of the world’s diamonds are cut and polished. To put things into perspective, the city has more than five thousand diamond manufacturing businesses, including some of the world’s largest diamond-cutting factories.
It’s also famous for its thriving textile industry. Traditionally, the sarees that come out of this area have decorative gold lace borders.
6. Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka has come up a lot in recent world affairs. It’s a massive city perched on the northern shores of Japan’s Kyushu Island. Like many of Japan’s big cities, this one somehow manages to bring together ancient traditions and modern living. The origins of the city date back over 2000 years ago, when it was considered a gateway to Japan for international traders.
The modern city was founded in 1889. Today, this coastal haven has become a major economic center, home to more than 1.6 million people. Its economy still thrives on harbor activity but also boasts a big tech scene and a blossoming tourism sector. Having always been in the shadow of Tokyo and Kyoto, this is a great place to visit for a slightly more low-key Japanese city experience.
And let’s not forget the vibrant yatai culture – the bustling food stalls serving up world-famous local delicacies like Hakata ramen.
5. Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Belo Horizonte goes relatively unnoticed by the international community—that is, unless you are a football fan. Fans might remember that this is the city where Germany beat Brazil in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final. Locals diminutize the name to BH.
It’s a purpose-built city for the 20th century and is the sixth largest in Brazil. It was founded in 1897 to replace Ouro Preto as the state capital and was the first ever ‘planned modern city’ in Brazil. Now, more than 2.3 million people call this city home!
The city’s industry revolves around mining, steel, and automotive manufacturing. The entire metropolis is laid out in a perfect grid format, with parks and green spaces dotted throughout. With busy markets and a buzzing nightlife scene, life here is lively and cultural, yet somehow doesn’t have a huge tourism pull.
4. Foshan, China
Foshan is one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolises. Back in 1985, it was home to under a million people (758 thousand, to be precise). Today, it’s more populous than its neighbor, Hong Kong, with around 9.6 million people calling the city home.
The entire city sprawls across more than 1486 square miles just southwest of Guangzhou. It’s part of the Pearl River Delta megalopolis, which is a group of cities that jointly house more than 86 million inhabitants. To put things into perspective, that is more than the entire population of the UK!
Life in Foshan is a good mix of traditional charm and modern amenities. Because of its overwhelming size, tourists often overlook the city.
3. Pune, India
Pune was a pretty important colonial army base when India was under British rule, but recently, it’s been totally overshadowed by nearby Mumbai. It’s a major IT and manufacturing hub and has some of the top educational institutions in the country. So prominent, that it is sometimes called the ‘Oxford of the East’.
More than four million people live here, contributing to the city’s burgeoning automobile and IT industry.
Unlike most cities on this list, this one has quite a bit to offer tourists. It’s home to the famous Aga Khan Palace and the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, which houses an interesting collection of objects collected by one eccentric man. You’ll also find the Osho International Meditation Resort here, which is considered one of the world’s biggest spiritual health clubs.
2. Luanda, Angola
Luanda is the only African capital city on this list. The capital city of Angola is larger than you might believe. It’s the primary port for the country and has a bustling industrial, cultural, and urban center.
Uganda was founded by the colonial Portuguese in 1576. At one point, this city was the administrative center of the Portuguese colony and an important section of the trade route between Africa and South America.
Within a day of exploring the city, you’ll understand what people mean when they say it is a city of contrasts. Modern skyscrapers stand next to small colorful houses of the city’s poorest inhabitants. It’s colorful and exciting, although definitely has some issues with economic disparities and deteriorating infrastructure.
1. Chongqing, China
Chongqing is one of the world’s largest cities, and I can almost guarantee most of you would have never heard of it. It’s considered a ‘megacity’ home to 32 million people in South Western China. Considering its massive administrative area (which is around the size of Austria), it is technically the largest city in the world.
The city tells a fascinating story that spans millennia. Its story starts as the capital of the (semi-mythical) state of Ba during the Zhou Dynasty and includes being a key strategic location in the Sino-Japanese war.
Today, the city is a hub for logistics and an important business center for transportation and communications. It’s also famous for its stunning mountain and river scenery, as well as its local Sichuan-style cuisine.
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