When people think of a city, they often imagine a large, densely populated urban area.

       But in China, the definition can be very different. The country has something called prefecture-level cities, which aren’t just cities in the traditional sense but massive administrative regions that include urban centres, towns, villages and vast rural areas.

       One of these is Nagqu, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, and it’s officially the largest prefecture-level city in the world, covering 450,537 square kilometres.

       To put that into perspective, Nagqu is almost twice the size of the UK (244,376 square kilometers) but has a population of just over 460,000 people, according to the 2010 census.

       Unlike typical cities, where most people live close together, Nagqu’s residents are spread across 89 townships, 25 towns, and over 1,200 villages.

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       So, what exactly is a prefecture-level city? In China, this term refers to an administrative division that governs not just a main urban centre but also surrounding regions, including rural areas, smaller towns, and counties.

       It’s like having a major city, several suburbs, and an entire countryside all counted as one single “city” on paper.

       This system allows for more streamlined governance, especially in huge regions like Tibet.

       Nagqu became a prefecture-level city in 2018, and its administrative area stretches across northern Tibet, bordering regions like Xinjiang and Qinghai.

       The city sits at an average altitude of over 4,500 metres (14,800 feet), making it one of the highest cities in the world.

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       Despite its harsh climate - temperatures can drop to -40C in winter - Nagqu is rich in natural resources.

       It contains 81% of Tibet’s lakes, including Namtso and Siling Lake, as well as important rivers and glaciers.

       The region also hosts the annual Kyagqen Horse Race Festival every August, attracting thousands of participants from across Tibet.

       While it may not fit the typical image of a city, Nagqu’s shows how administrative boundaries can redefine what we consider a “city”.

       In China’s case, it turns out a city can be larger than an entire European country.