New York City in Brief

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous urban agglomerations in the world.The city is referred to as New York City or the City of New York to distinguish it from the State of New York, of which it is a part. A global power city,New York exerts a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The home of the United Nations Headquarters,New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural capital of the world.

 Many districts and landmarks in New York City have become well known to its approximately 50 million annual visitors.Times Square, iconified as "The Crossroads of the World",is the brightly illuminated hub of the Broadway theater district,one of the world's busiest pedestrian intersections,and a major center of the world's entertainment industry.The city hosts many world renowned bridges, skyscrapers,and parks. New York City's financial district, anchored by Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, functions as the financial capital of the world and is home to the New York Stock Exchange, the world's largest stock exchange by total market capitalization of its listed companies.Manhattan's real estate market is among the most expensive in the world. Manhattan's Chinatown incorporates the highest concentration of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere. Providing continuous 24/7 service,the New York City Subway is one of the most extensive rapid transit systems worldwide. Numerous colleges and universities are located in New York, including Columbia University, New York University, and Rockefeller University, which are ranked among the top 50 in the world.