With nearly 23 million people, Shanghai is China’s biggest and most populous city. It is the financial and commercial capital of the country and a leading cultural center in Asia. Throughout the 1990′s and 2000′s the city underwent immense growth and redevelopment, thriving on international business. The futuristic and ambitious skyline of Pudong is the heart of Shanghai’s business district, and is growing swiftly with towering skyscrapers and an advanced urban environment. More pictures and information after the break.
A mere farmland just 18 years ago, Pudong now comprises of 35 structures that are over 200 meters tall and two that are over 400 meters, the Oriental Pearl T.V. Tower (468m) and the Shanghai World Financial Center (492m). As of last year, Pudong carried out 84 major construction projects involving $2.5 billion.
One of the major construction projects occurring in the Pudong district is Shanghai Disneyland. Construction has started on two six-lane highways leading to the theme park. In addition, a metro extension to Shanghai Disneyland has entered the pre-construction phase. The park is reportedly four square miles in size at a cost of $3.6 billion.
Even more impressive is Shanghai Tower, which is expected to be the country’s tallest skyscraper upon completion. It is currently built up to the 20th floor exceeding more than 100 meters above the ground. The tower, designed to reach an eventual height of 632 meters in Pudong’s Luijazui financial quarter, is expected to be put into use on January 1, 2015, said Gu Jianping, general manager of Shanghai Tower Construction & Development Co.
The most ambitious ongoing project is the Sunland Eco-Community Project that includes shopping malls and an ecological park in Pudong’s Waigaoqiao area. Construction of the 3.35 square kilometer park will have no boundary walls and will consist of a big lake, a peony garden and a sports park. Lu Qi, deputy director of administration at the Shanghai Waigaoquio Co. Ltd., siad that greenery and water area will cover 70% of the eco-community.
The success of Shanghai in budding for the 2010 World Exposition has brought about a historical opportunity to the city’s future development. The construction of airports, railways, highways, expressways, subways, maglev lines, ports, bridges and tunnels forms a convenient transportation network. Various commercial buildings, residential buildings and other infrastructure in Shanghai create an open and pleasant environment for investment and further development.
A main contribution to all these projects was China’s introduction of a 4 trillion Yuan ($618 billion) stimulus package that spurred the economy amid the global financial crisis. Moreover, a lot of foreign investments, particularly from the United States and Europe continue to reel into China. By 2020, Shanghai is expected to be the leading Global Financial and Shipping Center.
Photographs: Flickr: thebigdurian, Flickr: wolfgangstaudt, Flickr: architectural-design, Flickr: fz, Flickr: kwloo References: Shanghai Daily
