-
Essay / Shanghai and Hong Kong: the differences
Table of contentsShanghai versus Hong KongIntroductionPopulationEconomyReligionConclusionShanghai versus Hong KongIntroductionChina is currently one of the most populated places in the world. Although this country is very populated, there is great diversity between the different cities found there. Large cities vary in size in China. For example, Shanghai and Hong Kong are both considered megacities of the country, but they are very different in areas such as economy, population and even culture. Shanghai, considered mainland China, is more traditional while Hong Kong is more westernized like the American states. These two Chinese cities differ in many ways in terms of population, economy, and culture, but also have similarities in factors. These two very different countries come together to complement each other when it comes to making China a better place. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get original essayPopulationIn 2015, the population of Shanghai was approximately 24 million. The current population density, that is, there are a significant number of inhabitants per unit in this city, is approximately 46,000 inhabitants per square kilometer (Cox, 2011). In recent years, Shanghai's population has increased significantly due to immigration. Migration from surrounding small towns, such as Anhui and other rural areas, offsets this population increase. Shanghai's population growth is little due to births in megacities: “Shanghai's natural growth rate has been negative since 1993 due to low fertility rates” (World Population Review, 2017). The urban part of Shanghai accounts for most of the population while the rural area only makes up about 10 percent. According to the World Population Review, there are approximately 31,000 Japanese, more than 20,000 Americans, and 20,700 Koreans (World Population Review, 2017). The number of one ethnicity alone can sum up the number of a small town in Ohio. Residents of Shanghai share one of the cities with the longest life expectancy of its residents. Hong Kong's current population is around 7 million, which is only about 29 percent of Shanghai's population. Although Shanghai's population is significantly larger than Hong Kong's, the population density is surprising. The population density in Hong Kong is approximately 57,000 people per square kilometer, which means that there are more people occupying smaller space in this megacity (Information Sevice Department, 2015). As in Shanghai, the fertility rate is very low, as in the rest of Chinese cities. As the two megacities are very different in terms of population size, there are many similarities when it comes to demographics. Shanghai and Hong Kong are increasing over the years due to immigration, not fertility. Additionally, both cities have high population density, although Hong Kong is denser, the numbers appear to be very close. EconomyShanghai is considered an example of China as a whole, in terms of economy. Economic development has improved in quality, setting a remarkable example for the entire Chinese country. People in this city spend their money wisely on residential areas and properties that are good for consumers (The Urbanist, 2011). In previous years, Shanghai's economy relied on exports, but today it is shifting to domestic production. The city uses the services.