Shanghai Tower: World’s Second Tallest Building

Shanghai, China will soon be home to the second tallest building in the world. Currently under construction is the Shanghai Tower, which will reach a ridiculous 632 m or 2,073 ft upon completion in 2014. Shanghai Tower will look down upon the Pudong district in Shanghai, which is already home to some of the tallest buildings in the world. The Pearl Tower, Shanghai Financial Center, and Jin Mao tower currently occupy the highest points in the Shanghai skyline, but will soon be dwarfed by the newest addition.

Early stages of construction of the Shanghai Tower. June 2012

As with almost every Chinese building, the tower will have a very unique design. It will spiral all the way up, and like every other tall building in China, it will also be used as a tourist attraction. It is slightly odd that three of the tallest buildings in the world will be located within 5 blocks of each other, and each of them can be ascended to get a view of the city. All will offer virtually the same view, and the Pearl Tower serves no other purpose than a tourist attraction to view the city. Ironically, the Pearl Tower viewing deck is now the lowest of three viewing decks.

Shanghai Tower, under construction, will be located next to the World Financial Center (494.3 m) and Jin Mao tower (420.5 m).

It won’t be long until Shanghai Tower is completed, and China becomes home to the world’s second tallest building. However, many recessions have been predicted based on the number of the world’s tallest skyscrapers that a country builds prior to a downturn in the economy. A future blog will address this issue in more detail.

The Shanghai Tower will be the newest and tallest addition to the already monstrous Shanghai skyline.

China’s Air Pollution Problems

It is a well-known fact that China has an extreme air pollution problem, but unless you witness it with your own eyes it is difficult to comprehend.  Smog so thick that you can’t see more than a block, grey skies on cloudless days, and difficulty breathing after a short walk are all common.  There was an interesting article in the most recent Bloomberg Markets magazine that examined China’s growth and the environmental damage that is being caused by their energy consumption.  80% of China’s energy is from coal, and the byproducts that come from burning it are extremely harmful to the air. The article did a great job outlining the damage that is being done to the environment, and its impact on life in China.

The most alarming statistic in the article is that many scientists estimate that if China’s current pollution rates continue, it will only take until 2015 before irreversible damage is done to the environment.  If actions are not taken immediately by the Chinese government, we will soon have to adapt to a world that will experience a variety of effects of global warming.  It is uncertain the lasting impact that this damage will have, but we can only hope that someone decides to save the planet before it is too late.

Here is some other interesting information I found in the article.

It is estimated that air pollution causes 470,000 premature deaths per year in China.

In January of this year, 200 flights were grounded at Beijing’s airport because the smog was too thick.

Since 2010, China consumed more coal per year than the rest of the world combined.

A picture from my time in China. This was taken on one of the worst smog days in China. When the smog is this bad it is recommended that old people and children refrain from going outside.

Beijing Price Comparison

While my last couple of posts have provided useful information about Beijing, I think that this post may be the most interesting for those living in the U.S. Based on my time in China, I have provided a breakdown of the prices of items in Beijing. While most would assume that goods would be cheaper in China, it may surprise you to find out how much some everyday items actually cost.

Despite China’s rapid growth, there is still a major gap between quality of living in China and the US. Most economists estimate that Beijing is 20 years behind New York. Cost of living is very favorable in China, and I have compiled a list of prices for ordinary items based on my experiences in China.

Beijing Blue Sky Days

Unfortunately, China’s growth has come at the expense of its environment. Prior to hosting the Olympics, many regulations were put into place to try and improve the air quality, since Olympic officials were concerned about the health of athletes participating in the games.

Odd/Even cars: Prior to the Olympics, Beijing implemented a law that only allowed odd numbered cars to drive 3 days of the week and even numbered license plates to drive the other 3 days of the week. This encouraged the use of public transport and significantly reduced emissions and congestion.

Millions of old taxis were taken off roads and replaced with newer cars.

Two additional subway lines were built specifically for the Olympics.

Many question the accuracy of Beijing’s reports, since the US Embassy readings in Beijing usually differ from China’s reported numbers. Air pollution levels on the average day in China are about 5x the acceptable level as listed by the World Health Organization. Air quality is improving in China, but it is not even close to an adequate level when compared with the rest of the world.

Beijing Fun Facts

I was recently doing some research on Beijing, and came across some interesting information that I thought would be worth sharing. Below I have provided some of the most fascinating facts and statistics that I could find.

Beijing has been the capital of China since 1949.

When translated from Chinese, Beijing literally means Northern Capital.

Beijing is one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of nearly 20 million.

One in every 5 people in the world is Chinese.

Fortune cookies don’t exist in China.

Cricket fighting is very popular in China.

China only has one time zone.

Chinese invented ice cream, and Marco Polo brought the recipe back to Europe.

In 1980, China implemented a one child policy to slow its rapidly growing population. However, as shown by the chart below, the urban population in Beijing has risen very rapidly because of the migration of citizens to the city for employment.

The one child policy has also created a gender gap in the population, as many families wanted boys to carry on their family legacies. Currently, the gender gap under the age of 20 is 35 million, which will put significant stress on society to accommodate this gap. There have been some fascinating articles written recently that address the gender gap and the potential problems that will arise in the future as a result of it.

30-Story Hotel Built in 360 Hours

It seems that the entire country of China is under construction, as cranes are seen all over the country constructing enormous buildings. It is well known that China is quickly developing, but recently the country took that development to another level. In Hunan province a 30-story hotel was completed in 360 hours. For those of you who have problems with math, that is 15 days! Crews worked around the clock for 360 hours straight and a time lapse video captured every second of it to prove its legitimacy. While my initial reaction was to question the quality of a building that was assembled so quickly, I was surprised by the test results.

The building is supposed to be able to withstand a 9.0 earthquake and is five times more energy efficient than the average building. Completing a quality building in such a short period of time is simply amazing, and speaks volumes to the knowledge and talent developing in China. It would be great if the U.S. could complete construction in this short of a period of time as well, since it seems that construction season runs almost year round. The link to the youtube video can be found here. The video is amazing, and it is difficult to believe that something so large can be built from the ground in 15 days. Enjoy.

The Great Wall of Disneyland?

On each of my trips to the Great Wall at Badaling I have driven past a complex that reminded me of Disneyland. Just outside of Beijing lies a cluster of buildings that look very much like those found at Disney. There is even a castle, resembling the one at Magic Kingdom, rising from the top of the small village. Just 10 minutes from the park one can begin to see portions of the Great Wall. I have always been intrigued by the park, especially since the buildings lie empty and the surrounding area is abandoned. Located in the middle of farmland and just 10 minutes from one of the Wonders of the World, the park is difficult to overlook. It is a shame to see such a beautifully built place go unused, providing another example of the many new buildings that lie abandoned in China.

Luckily, I stumbled across an article about this very park on Reuters this week, and many of the questions I had about this mysterious Disneyland were answered. I have provided a link to the original article, which discusses the current state of China’s Deserted Fake Disneyland.

Just ten minutes from fake Disneyland it is possible to see portions of the Great Wall winding through the mountains.

Summary of China Trip

The following is an extremely brief overview of the five months I spent in China.

-Arrived in China with no place to stay.

-Found an apartment, but the bathroom and heat didn’t work. Lack of heat became major issues because of below zero temperatures.

-International student adventure weekend

-Beginning of school at Peking University

-The first of many trips to the Silk Market

-My 21st Birthday

-Trip to Xi’an

-Tuesday trip to nowhere

-Day Trip to Tianjin via bullet train

–Interesting weekend trip to Datong which included: trips to the Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Monastery and one of the oldest sections of the Great Wall, my first camel ride and karaoke with ten random Chinese people from our restaurant. In addition to these things I also met am 89 year old, four-foot cave man and was able to tour his home/cave.

-Visits to the Chaoyang Acrobatics Show and Beijing Zoo

-Failed trip to Longqing Gorge

–Summer Palace

-Ate scorpions, starfish, silk worms, duck neck, and a few other things at Wangfujing Snack Street

-One mile sled down the top of the Great Wall at Mutianyu

-Tours of many of the temples in Beijing, including the Temple of Heaven

-Wild trip to Inner Mongolia desert and grasslands. Rode camels, atvs, and a sled down the largest sand dune in the desert. Rode horses, watched Mongolian wrestling, survived the night in a yurt in freezing temperatures, and watched sunrise on the grasslands. After a week covered in sand and dirt went to potentially the greatest spa in the world for the price.

-Visits to two of Beijing’s highest points: Coal Hill and Fragrant Hills.

–Tea and mud baths at Jiuhua Spa Resort

–Xu Xiake Tourism Festival and China Tourism Day: Included visits to Ningbo, Ninghai, Zhejiang Grand Canyon and the famous Buddhist mountain Putuoshan.

–Lama and Confucius Temple in Beijing

–Fat Boy Slim Concert at the Great Wall

-My final trip, including stops at: Hangzhouand the beautiful surrounding areas, Huangshan, and Shanghai

Shanghai Pictures

Pictures from around Shanghai, Shanghai Museum, The Bund, Shanghai Central Business District, and Yuyuan Gardens.

Check out my other pictures from:
Beijing
Xi’an
Tianjin
Datong
Inner Mongolia
Ninghai&Putuoshan
Hangzhou
Huangshan

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Pictures

Huangshan may be one of the most beautiful places on earth, but not when the weather is poor. The weather did not cooperate during my trip, as evidenced by these pictures. Some brief glimpses of Huangshan’s beauty can be seen at the bottom.

Check out other pictures from:

Beijing
Xi’an
Tianjin
Datong
Inner Mongolia
Ninghai&Putuoshan
Hangzhou
Shanghai