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5 October, 2009



   
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Which is the World's Greatest City?

Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore. How do you handicap a field as tough as this? Like this!
 
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World
Not to be cocky about it, but …

… ah, who are we kidding? When you live in a great city, why deny it?

Instead, why not prove it -- and celebrate it -- with the definitive list of reasons that proves once and for all that, in a world of incredible places, yours is hands down, categorically, without question, undeniably, and now more or less scientifically substantiated, the greatest city on the planet?

Not buying it?

Read on, dear viewer.

We've done some deduction.

It goes like this: If Paris was the capital of the nineteenth century and New York the capital of the twentieth, it’s a given that the capital of the twenty-first century falls within our jurisdiction.

But which city deserves to be crowned tops on earth?

Check out the case for the six contenders below then help us build -- or tear down -- the argument for the greatest city on the planet.

World
50 reasons why Bangkok is No. 1

There's room for everyone inside the tolerant Thai tent of Krung Thep. Its culturally-diverse, sexually-liberated and urinally-grabby populace is a mere human representation of the city's uncommon overall diversity. From the bedlam of its politics to the nobility of its monarch, from the bustle of its shopping districts to the distinctive calm of the Lung, Bangkok is a municipal spectrum as broad as its real name is long.


World
50 reasons why Hong Kong is No. 1

In just one hour in the SAR, you can swim Shek O, hike the Peak, shop for shoes and join a protest against the devastating effects of footwear on our beaches and mountains. And you'll need to maintain that kind of schedule if you hope to consume everything else the 'fragrant harbor' has to offer.




World
50 reasons why Mumbai is No. 1

When you're ready -- truly ready -- to see it all, you're ready for the city formerly known as Bombay; the richest, poorest, most hopeful, most desperate, most colorful place on Earth. Spiritual, sporting, slummy and celebratory, Mumbai is the all singing, all dancing model for hustle and human spirit.




World

50 reasons why Shanghai is No. 1

Cheap and sophisticated, historic yet still flowering, the "Paris of the East" is the complex, cosmopolitan trophy town that China trots out front-and-center to gain world-class status at dinner parties. But more than just the hood ornament of the world's fastest accelerating economy, Shanghai is China's largest city, crackling with the electricity of a start-up enterprise with 20 million pajama-clad possibilities.

World
50 reasons why Singapore is No. 1

It all starts when you touch down at the world's consensus best airport -- and the accolades only get loftier from there: we're the business-friendliest, least bureaucratic, most expat-embracing, least corrupt, most livable place in Asia on the continent's smallest tract of land. It all combines to form the greatest land-to-awesomeness ratio in the world.



World

50 reasons why Tokyo is No. 1

The dazzling, 120-inch, state-of-the-art liquid crystal display of Asia, erstwhile Edo bustles with with a swarm of youth culture, incurable innovation, oddity, robots, and insufferable levels of cuteness. Like a municipal video game with no final level, Tokyo challenges you with a never-ending onslaught of seizure-provoking stimuli.



Still not convinced? Let us know which city you think is the greatest in the world and exactly why. Or is there another city you want to nominate and wax lyrical about its greatest-ness?

There is a dirty big box below for you to plug in your comments... And vote on our Twitpoll. We've thrown a few extra cities in there for good measure so they don't feel left out or unappreciated. It's got a really colorful pie chart thingy too!



   
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Tags: world's greatest city, 50 reasons
user comments and reviews (8)
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Tarek00
6 November, 2009
mhclaxton... I have never commented on articles before but when I saw your comment I sincerely felt insulted by your ignorance. There isnt a problem if no one believes that Beirut is the greatest city to live in but it is definetly not a haven for Islamist. I am confident that if you do actually see Beirut,not only will you love it, you will be addicted to the dynamics of the beautiful city I call home. But with such a mentality, you will not be able to enjoy Beirut, and neither will your general and ignorant remarks be welcome in Beirut. With 17 different sects of Muslims, Christians, and Jews, we are proud people that have coexisted for centuries, our historical churches and lovely mosques stand right next to each other. We have a rich culture, great food including hommos, tabouli, and our famous mezza. From Lebanon, we boast great people that have not only made our country proud but have benefited the world with their contribution such as our late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, or fashion designer Elie Saab, experienced doctors and physicians, and one interesting fact we have the best pilots in the world.We have the best university in the middle east, AUB, which has produced numerous leaders that are now in the center of the global business world. Beirut was also voted the #1 city to visit by the New York Times, has the best club in the World, and beautiful and welcoming people. Lastly, and in reference to your blown up terrorists, we are people that are proud of not only our culture but our resistance to any force that has meddled in our country, from the Cedar Revoltuion to our long running resistance against Israel. So please make sure you know what Beirut is before publishing a comment like that.
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Tarek00
6 November, 2009
mhclaxton... I have never commented on articles before but when I saw your comment I sincerely felt insulted by your ignorance. There isnt a problem if no one believes that Beirut is the greatest city to live in but it is definetly not a haven for Islamist. I am confident that if you do actually see Beirut,not only will you love it, you will be addicted to the dynamics of the beautiful city I call home. But with such a mentality, you will not be able to enjoy Beirut, and neither will your general and ignorant remarks be welcome in Beirut. With 17 different sects of Muslims, Christians, and Jews, we are proud people that have coexisted for centuries, our historical churches and lovely mosques stand right next to each other. We have a rich culture, great food including hommos, tabouli, and our famous mezza. From Lebanon, we boast great people that have not only made our country proud but have benefited the world with their contribution such as our late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, or fashion designer Elie Saab, experienced doctors and physicians, and one interesting fact we have the best pilots in the world.We have the best university in the middle east, AUB, which has produced numerous leaders that are now in the center of the global business world. Beirut was also voted the #1 city to visit by the New York Times, has the best club in the World, and beautiful and welcoming people. Lastly, and in reference to your blown up terrorists, we are people that are proud of not only our culture but our resistance to any force that has meddled in our country, from the Cedar Revoltuion to our long running resistance against Israel. So please make sure you know what Beirut is before publishing a comment like that.
mhclaxton
12 October, 2009
Yes....visit Beirut and get blown up by terrorists. This is a city so full of hate: Islamists hate everyone who is different. No thanks....I will avoid Beirut.
moe999
11 October, 2009
This survey should have included more cities and should have reviewed great cities like Dubai.
Hirsch
10 October, 2009
So the more people that vote for their home cities will win a pancake and the be able to be so proud of their city... What is greatest? By the way, Shanghai is far from being the NY of the century, new buildings, a maglev train to the airport and money don't make it a top city. Keep in mind China has more than 1300 million people and counting and they can outvote anybody, so even a small town in China can make your top list. Tokyo and New York City are unique and if your definition of "greatest" is about cities that are large, cosmopolitan, intense, modern, old, interesting, peculiar, exciting and have it all, these two have no match anywhere. Oh and now that the IOC has chosen Rio as the host for the 2016 Olympics, I suppose this city should be included in the list!
mattkk
10 October, 2009
It is simply imaginable for anyone to rate the best city in the world before visiting Beirut. Underneath the mix of concrete and shaky limestone lies the history of mankind. The birthplace of beauty, love, culture and eternal optimism. Come to Beirut and experience for the first time synchronized chaos and true living.
JADRIANOS
5 October, 2009
Rio de Janeiro - From its humongous social contrasts – The richest people in Brazil living next door to the poorest - to the natural beauty, Rio de Janeiro handles a notorious status as the party city, where people from Brazil and around the world can go to share culture and have fun. If you enjoy natural scenes, Rio is surrounded by a well preserved tropical vegetation crowded with native and rare vegetation species like laelia lobata, a orchid that blooms just in two places in the planet, the Morro da Gavea and Pao de Acucar, both in Rio de Janeiro. Also you can go to a wonderful adventure on the Urca Hill, – a touristic complex that goes from the sea level to as higher as 1300 feet , which is formed by Praia Vermelha, Morro da Urca and the last, but not the least Pão de Açucar, the highest of the three. As well as enjoying the natural beauties, you can also have the same emotion as the locals who live in a shantytown -popularly known as favela – by check into one of the many favela B&B, which can offer all the amenities you’d have in any B&B around the world with all the safety you could get in any large city. Mostly now that Rio de Janeiro was elected to hold the 2016 Olympic Games.
STree
5 October, 2009
from the general speaking, i think the tokyo is the best from these cities.
karls9
5 October, 2009
The choice of the six, with the exception of Singapore perhaps, are also some of the most polluted cities in the world. The air to breathe is dangerous. People, especially young and old, die daily due to this. Certainly, all these cities have their charm which you cant find elsewhere.
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