Claim: Birth of the Dragon's principal photography began in a North American country.

Vancouver -LRB- -LSB- vænˈkuːvər -RSB- , -LSB- localvæŋ - -RSB- -RRB- is a coastal seaport city in Canada , located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia . As the most populous city in the province , the 2016 census recorded 631,486 people in the city , up from 603,502 in 2011 . The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 2,463,431 in 2016 , making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada . Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada with over 5,400 people per square kilometre . With over 250,000 residents , Vancouver is the fourth most densely populated city in North America behind New York City , San Francisco , and Mexico City according to the 2011 census . In that census , Vancouver was one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada ; 52 % of its residents have a first language other than English . Vancouver is classed as a Beta global city .   Vancouver is consistently named as one of the top five worldwide cities for livability and quality of life ,  and the Economist Intelligence Unit acknowledged it as the first city ranked among the top-ten of the world 's most well-living cities  for five consecutive years .  Vancouver has hosted many international conferences and events , including the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games , UN Habitat I , Expo 86 , the World Police and Fire Games in 1989 and 2009 ; and the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics which were held in Vancouver and Whistler , a resort community 125 km north of the city . In 2014 , following thirty years in California , the annual TED conference made Vancouver its indefinite home . Several matches of the 2015 FIFA Women 's World Cup were played in Vancouver , including the final at BC Place .   The original settlement , named Gastown , grew up on clearcuts on the west edge of the Hastings Mill logging sawmill 's property , where a makeshift tavern had been set up on a plank between two stumps and the proprietor , Gassy Jack , persuaded the curious millworkers to build him a tavern , on 1 July 1867 . From that first enterprise , other stores and some hotels quickly appeared along the waterfront to the west . Gastown became formally laid out as a registered townsite dubbed Granville , B.I. -LRB- `` B.I '' standing for `` Burrard Inlet '' -RRB- . As part of the land and political deal whereby the area of the townsite was made the railhead of the Canadian Pacific Railway -LRB- CPR -RRB- , it was renamed `` Vancouver '' and incorporated shortly thereafter as a city , in 1886 . By 1887 , the transcontinental railway was extended to the city to take advantage of its large natural seaport , which soon became a vital link in a trade route between the Orient , Eastern Canada , and Europe .  , Port Metro Vancouver is the third largest port by tonnage in the Americas -LRB- displacing New York -RRB- , 27th in the world , the busiest and largest in Canada , and the most diversified port in North America .  While forestry remains its largest industry , Vancouver is well known as an urban centre surrounded by nature , making tourism its second-largest industry .  Major film production studios in Vancouver and Burnaby have turned Greater Vancouver and nearby areas into one of the largest film production centres in North America ,  earning it the film industry nickname , Hollywood North .