length · International · Modern
SI base unit of length. Its definition fixes the speed of light in vacuum at exactly 299,792,458 m/s, with the second defined from the caesium-133 hyperfine frequency.
Converter
length · China / East Asia · Historical–modern
li (Chinese distance)
approx.
- Record
- M225
- Definition quality
- Historically standardized modern 市制 reference
- Conversion mode
- multiplicative
- Calculator
- Approximately calculable
Definition
Current government conversion tables give 1 km = 2 market li.
Approximate reference value
One li (Chinese distance) is understood to be about 500 metres.
History & use
Current Chinese statistical conversion tables use 1 km = 2 shìlǐ. Historical li varied substantially by era.
Modern use
Modern use is context-dependent and varies by region or measurement system.
Did you know?
Modern li is conveniently metric-linked, but historical li was not fixed at 500 m.
Sources & evidence
Source tier Tier B/C — recorded secondary/reference source · confidence High
Related measurements
length · International · Modern
1 km = 1000 m by the SI prefix kilo-.
length · International · Modern
1 cm = 0.01 m by the SI prefix centi-.
length · International · Modern
1 mm = 0.001 m by the SI prefix milli-.
inch
inlength · UK / US · Modern / historical
1 international inch = exactly 0.0254 m.
foot
ftlength · UK / US · Modern / historical
1 international foot = exactly 0.3048 m.
yard
ydlength · UK / US · Modern / historical
1 international yard = exactly 0.9144 m.
mile
milength · UK / US · Modern / historical
1 international mile = exactly 1609.344 m = 1760 yd.