how did china build its infrastructure ?

[Gandhi G in da house]

china used to have a bad infrastructure just about 20 years ago including cities like shanghai and beijing , but they have all seen a sea change since then .

the question is how did they do it so rapidly , where did all the older structures go ?

Were they destroyed ?
Did the people not protest ?

I f you compare chinese cities with cities of countries with comparable per capita income like Egypt , algeria , namibia , el salvador then its easy to notice china has a much advanced infra .

How has china built its infra so ahead of time ?

India will have the same per person income as china does today by the year 2020 but i dont see india possibly having world class infra like China in that year.

china if i am not wrong has better infra compared to richer countries like russia and mexico as well ( per capita income) .

the question is how did they do it ?

I would like replies from chinese who witnessed the change happen first hand and also want to know why many other countries like India and egypt or even mexico cant build world class infrastructure that fast.

no trolling please , only serious well informed replies.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

I think we have almost finished the phase of industrialization, now it is the time for innovation and environmental protection.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Shanghai Skyline: Before and After

how can you possibly do something like that in 15 years ?

where did all the older structures go ?

 

[Nomenclature]

I think we have almost finished the phase of industrialization, now it is the time for innovation and environmental protection.

I wouldn't say that. There is this idea going around that China has world-class infrastructure, or even China is overbuilding like Japan did in the 80s. This is utterly non-sense.

China still suffers from a lack of infrastructure. Read World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report or the Legatum Prosperity Index. All point out that China has an infrastructure problem.

In fact I think the current figure is an average Chinese has access to 1/5 of infrastructure of an average American has or 1/10 of an average Japanese.

Yes we need innovation and environmental protection, but we need more infrastructure in equal urgency.

 

[Martian2]

Shanghai Skyline: Before and After

how can you possibly do something like that in 15 years ?

where did all the older structures go ?

In 1993, with my parents and siblings, I traveled through Shenzhen when it was known as China's "miracle city." It is something that I will never forget. The taxi van drove for miles and I saw endless buildings and manufacturing plants under construction. That was the first time that I heard the crane was the national bird.

China is/was able to accomplish this incredible transformation of its infrastructure through a number of factors:

1. Chinese work harder than anyone else. I stayed at the Friendship Hotel in Beijing. Nearby, outside the hotel windows, I saw welders working at a skyscraper under construction during the evening.

2. Chinese infrastructure building is heavily mechanized.

3. Chinese "will." I heard the story that Chinese are different from everybody else in the world. Everyone else wants to move to the U.S. and live the American dream. The Chinese are different. China is determined to build a first-world country, equal to American standards, for all Chinese.

4. China's leadership is comprised of engineers. President Hu is a hydraulic engineer. Premier "Wen has a professional background in geology and engineering." The rest of the politburo are also engineers. They are determined to build and restore China's position as the leading country in the world.

To answer your question, the older structures were demolished to make way for the new modern buildings.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

I wouldn't say that. There is this idea going around that China has world-class infrastructure, or even China is overbuilding like Japan did in the 80s. This is utterly non-sense.

China still suffers from a lack of infrastructure. Read World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report or the Legatum Prosperity Index. All point out that China has an infrastructure problem.

In fact I think the current figure is an average Chinese has access to 1/5 of infrastructure of an average American has or 1/10 of an average Japanese.

Yes we need innovation and environmental protection, but we need more infrastructure in equal urgency.

No comments on the change in shanghai ?

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

In 1993, with my parents and siblings, I traveled through Shenzhen when it was known as China's "miracle city." It is something that I will never forget. The taxi van drove for miles and I saw endless buildings and manufacturing plants under construction. That was the first time that I heard the crane was the national bird.

China is/was able to accomplish this incredible transformation of its infrastructure through a number of factors:

1. Chinese work harder than anyone else.

2. Chinese infrastructure building is heavily mechanized.

3. Chinese "will." I heard the story that Chinese are different from everybody else in the world. Everyone else wants to move to the U.S. and live the American dream. The Chinese are different. China is determined to build a first-world country, equal to American standards, for all Chinese.

To answer your question, the older structures were demolished to make way for the new modern buildings.

Most Chinese went to Western countries just to receive better education, after that most of them go back and build their motherland, just like the Japanese of early 20th century.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

In 1993, with my parents and siblings, I traveled through Shenzhen when it was known as China's "miracle city." It is something that I will never forget. The taxi van drove for miles and I saw endless buildings and manufacturing plants under construction. That was the first time that I heard the crane was the national bird.

China is/was able to accomplish this incredible transformation of its infrastructure through a number of factors:

1. Chinese work harder than anyone else. I stayed at the Friendship Hotel in Beijing. Nearby, outside the windows, I saw workers welding during the evening.

2. Chinese infrastructure building is heavily mechanized.

3. Chinese "will." I heard the story that Chinese are different from everybody else in the world. Everyone else wants to move to the U.S. and live the American dream. The Chinese are different. China is determined to build a first-world country, equal to American standards, for all Chinese.

To answer your question, the older structures were demolished to make way for the new modern buildings.

And there were no protests by people who lived there ?

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

And there were no protests by people who lived there ?

People got the refund and were asked to move elsewhere. Many people got their new house distributed by the government. I know pretty much everything since my grandmother still live in Shanghai.

 

[Martian2]

And there were no protests by people who lived there ?

I don't know, but it doesn't matter. In the West, the government has the power of eminent domain. The Chinese government has a similar right.

China is a collectivist society. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Also, the Chinese government pays compensation to relocate people. However, the important thing is the overriding national interest.

Ask yourself, what is more important? Does the nation need a modern sea-port in Shanghai or do a few people have the right to refuse relocation and compensation and demand an exorbitant price for land that they do not own? In China, the government owns all land. In conclusion, the former residents were offered pretty sweet deals to relocate. It's a win-win situation.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

I don't know, but it doesn't matter. In the West, the government has the power of eminent domain. The Chinese government has a similar right.

China is a collectivist society. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. The Chinese government does pay compensation to relocate people. However, the important thing is the overriding national interest.

That's exactly the case, many people were even compensated with a new and better house.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

People got the refund and were asked to move elsewhere. Many people got their new house distributed by the government. I know pretty much everything since my grandmother still live in Shanghai.

one cant help but wonder why other countries like the ones i mentioned not do the same

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

I don't know, but it doesn't matter. In the West, the government has the power of eminent domain. The Chinese government has a similar right.

China is a collectivist society. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Also, the Chinese government pays compensation to relocate people. However, the important thing is the overriding national interest.

Ask yourself, what is more important? Does the nation need a modern sea-port in Shanghai or do a few people have the right to refuse relocation and compensation and demand an exorbitant price for land that they do not own? In China, the government owns all land. In conclusion, the former residents were offered pretty sweet deals to relocate. It's a win-win situation.

I guess this is what makes the difference

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

I guess this is what makes the difference

In the Western countries, the government also owns all the lands. It doesn't make any difference.

 

[Abhishek_]

In the Western countries, the government also owns all the lands. It doesn't make any difference.

not sure about canada but in US, the govt. does not own all the land.

on topic- I think the chinese govt. has worked hard to gain trust of the general populace. and when they do take over land, the number of people opposing are quite minute. As an outsider, it seems they have a pretty good track record of developing infra for public, so the public also puts faith in them