City Comparison
Compare two incredible cities side by side — culture, food, local tips, and immersive 4K virtual walks.
Country
🇨🇳 Yan'an
China
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Turkey
Continent
🇨🇳 Yan'an
Asia
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Europe
Best Season
🇨🇳 Yan'an
April–June (yellow loess plateau in spring green) or September–October (harvest season, millet and apple orchards golden)
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Spring (April–May) or Autumn (September–October)
Currency
🇨🇳 Yan'an
Chinese Yuan / Renminbi (CNY ¥)
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Turkish Lira (₺)
Greeting
🇨🇳 Yan'an
你好 (Nǐ hǎo); Shaanxi dialect (陕西话) — a distinct Guanzhong Mandarin variety
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Merhaba
The cave dwellings (窑洞 yáodòng) carved into the loess cliffs are the definitive architectural experience of Yan'an — both the revolutionary leaders' preserved caves at Zaoyuan and Yangjialing are open to visit, and many local guesthouses also offer cave-dwelling accommodation. The Yan River illuminated at night against the loess cliffs and classical pavilion bridges creates a uniquely surreal cityscape.
Bargaining is expected in the Grand Bazaar. Always accept the tea offered by shopkeepers.
🇨🇳 Yan'an Fun Fact
Yan'an served as the headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party from 1936–1947 — the decade when Mao Zedong consolidated control, the CCP survived Japanese invasion, and the revolutionary ideology that would govern 1.4 billion people was formulated. Over one million CCP officials and cadres make compulsory 'red education' pilgrimages to Yan'an annually. The city sits in the heart of the Loess Plateau — the world's largest deposit of wind-blown silt, which gave the Yellow River its colour and allowed ancient agriculture to develop in this otherwise arid landscape.
🇹🇷 Istanbul Fun Fact
Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents — Europe and Asia.
Try the live side-by-side comparison in the app
Open in Nearaway.inMore Comparisons