What to know

Incredible Ways China Is Changing The World

Shanghai skyline - China changing the world

If there is one country that keep surprising the world it is for sure China. Despite war, embargoes, colonization, and a the largest human population in one of the largest stretches of land China has challenged all odds, and maintained one of the world’s largest economies.

Being an empire as far back as the 221 BCE during the Qin Dynasty, to the Republic of China in 1912, and People’s Republic of China since 1949, it remains the world’s largest and one of fastest growing economies.

They came out from the second world war with a GDP per capita of $314.4 in 1999, and managed to raise it to $6,807.43 in 2013.

Today, it is hard not to own something owned in China, if anything, they are the main exporters of almost everything and anything in the world. The mega-nation of 1.4 billion people is not only the producer of all things, but as it seems, as creator as well. With its rapidly growing population, China is trying to keep up and accommodate, provide welfare and food for all.

In one of the biggest known metropolitan project in history, China announced it will merge Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhaoqing, Foshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Zhongshan and Zhuhai into one single megacity. Of course this came with some of history’s greatest infrastructure projects.

When making a new city, you need to keep in mind the potential populations needs. Some of the projects with which China is changing the world are:

Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower - China changing the world

Shanghai Tower – China changing the world

Standing 632 meters tall, this 137 story building is the second tallest in the world. And if that is not astonishing enough, it stands next to Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center, 382 and 492 meters high respectively. Being completed in 2015, the building is designed to be highly energy efficient. It came with a price tag of $2.4 billion.

Xiluodu Dam

Xiluodo Dam - China changing the world

Xiluodo Dam – China changing the world

This arch dam on the Jinsha River runs hydroelectric power generators with capacity of 13,86 MW. The dam, costing $6.76 billion, also helps with flood control. Xiloudu Dam is the fourth tallest in the world and currently the second-largest power source for all of China.

Wenchang Satellite Launch Center

Wenchang Sattelite Launch Center - China changing the world

Wenchang Sattelite Launch Center – China changing the world

This former sub-orbital test center is today a space vehicle launch facility special because of it low latitude, only 19 degrees from the equator. This proximity allows for a larger cargo, which is necessary for future manned flights into space.

Harbin–Dalian High-Speed Railway

Hada Railway - China changing the world

Hada Railway – China changing the world

This high-speed rail line connecting Harbin and Dalian, is the world’s first alpine high-speed railway operating at high latitudes and low temperatures in winter. It was constructed with de-icing technology which makes it possible for trains to operate over snow. During winters trains can travel at speeds up to 200 km/h, however during other seasons they travel at speeds as high as 350 km/h.

Jiaozhou Bay Bridge

Jiaozhou Bay Bridge - China changing the world

Jiaozhou Bay Bridge – China changing the world

Also known as the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge, at $16 billion USD, this is the world’s longest overwater bridge. It stretches a good 41.58 km across Shandong province, which is part of the 41.58 km (25.84 mi) Jiaozhou Bay Connection Project.

Lingang New City

Lingang New City - China changing the world

Lingang New City – China changing the world / Photo: Heike Mayer

That’s right, a new population needs a new city. It is now named Nanhui New City, for $4.5 billion, the government are building a new city to accommodate 1 million people. To encourage people to move into the new city and setting up businesses, they build eight universities in area, which brought more than 1000 students.

And by 2030, China plans to have relocated the 42 million people from 9 cities into one, $322 billion mega-city. By the time the city merger is complete, they estimate their population to be 80 million.

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