Saw this article on freeway construction in China and went ahead and created this thread to periodically post updates to China's growth. I'll post some links later, but growth in China makes the boom cities in the US look like nothing.


After years of closing the gap with the United States, China built enough freeways in 2013 to amass the greatest length of freeways in the world. Between 2003 and 2013, China expanded its national expressway system, with interstate (motorway in Europe) standard roadways from 30,000 to 105,000 kilometers (18,000 to 65,000 miles). This compares to the 101,000 kilometers (63,000 miles) in the United States in 2012. China's freeway system is also longer than that of the European Union, which was 70,000 kilometers in 2010 (43,000 miles) and Japan (8,000 kilometers or 5,000 miles) as is indicated in Figure 1 (Note 1). The ascent of China is evident across the spectrum of transport data, both passenger and freight.

http://www.newgeography.com/files/wendell-worldtrans-1.png

http://www.newgeography.com/files/wendell-worldtrans-2.png

China is dominant among the four economies in passenger rail volumes, with its 1.05 trillion annual passenger kilometers (0.65 trillion passenger miles) accounting for more than 2.5 times the rail travel in both the European Union and Japan. US rail travel is no more than 1/20th that of China (equal to the road travel volume in the state of Arkansas).

The United States continues to lead in a domestic airline travel, with a volume approximately 60 percent greater than those of the European Union and China. China trails the European Union by only two percent and with its growth rate seems likely to assume the second position before long (Figure 3).

- read more here: China's Ascent in World Transport | Newgeography.com (http://www.newgeography.com/content/004323-chinas-ascent-world-transport)

Trickle down economy works in the USA. But the problem is most of it trickled down big time to China.

It really seems like China is trying to 'Westernize' itself.

Like I said in your other thread. It isn't that impressive when you factor in that China is moving 3 times as many people as the US. To have almost equal amounts of freeway miles is a little embarrassing for the US.

Like I said in your other thread. It isn't that impressive when you factor in that China is moving 3 times as many people as the US. To have almost equal amounts of freeway miles is a little embarrassing for the US.It's an interesting trend and the China isn't done. They are a developing country. It ins't that embarrassing.

It seems like freeway length would mean more when paired with total area of the nation. Japan is much smaller than the US or China area-wise.

Some crazy facts about China:

1: Twenty million trees are cut every year to meet Chinese demand for chopsticks.

2: China's railway lines could loop around Earth twice.

3: China's coal reserves weigh as much as 575 million blue whales.

Read more: Mind-Blowing Facts About China - Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/mind-blowing-facts-about-china-2014-6?op=1#ixzz33VmQvCgD)

Instead of disposable chop sticks, maybe a reusable spork is the answer!

This is pretty crazy!


Today, there are about 30 megacities in the world, where more than 10 million residents live. The largest is Tokyo, at about 38 million. Recent announcements by the government of China could lead to the worlds' first gigacity (for want of a better term, used here to denote a city of more than 100,000,000 population, see note). According to the Nanfang Insider, the economic integration of megacity Beijing, megacity Tianjin and eight cities (prefectures) in the province of Hebei would result in a city of 130 million. China Daily is a bit more circumspect, indicating that the Beijing supercity would have only 85 million.

The giga/super city would be tied together by new rapid transit lines and highways and surrounded by the 7th Ring Road, adding to the six that have already been built. The 7th Ring Road would consist of two roads, circling most of the area, and extending to a combined 850 miles (2,200 kilometers). By comparison, London's M-25 is 117 miles long (188 kilometers), the Moscow MKAD 68 miles long (109 kilometers) and the Washington beltway is 64 miles long (103 kilometers)

- Beijing Gigacity to Cover Area of Cambodia or Oklahoma | Newgeography.com (http://www.newgeography.com/content/004394-beijing-gigacity-cover-area-cambodia-or-oklahoma)

Just got back from China and the infrastructure they are building is nothing short of amazing. High speed rail track going up everywhere and 6-12 lane highways as well. It's an astounding thing to see.

China's Ghost Cities...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3XfpYxHKCo

Just got back from China and the infrastructure they are building is nothing short of amazing. High speed rail track going up everywhere and 6-12 lane highways as well. It's an astounding thing to see.

One reason they're able to do that is that China doesn't believe in spending its billions by going to war. What would have the USA done with an extra $1 trillion dollars by not invading Iraq in 2003?

What would have the USA done with an extra $1 trillion dollars by not invading Iraq in 2003?

Answer, repair less than half of the interstate system. Now if we could get highway construction workers to work for $2.50 per hour that would be another story. Alas, if we didn't invade Iraq in 2003 you couldn't afford gasoline so repairing the interstate wouldn't be such a priority.

One reason they're able to do that is that China doesn't believe in spending its billions by going to war. What would have the USA done with an extra $1 trillion dollars by not invading Iraq in 2003?

Defense Spending, by Country...

List of countries by military expenditures - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures)

Defense Spending, by Country...

List of countries by military expenditures - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures)

Nevertheless, China spending 188 billion vs USA spending 640 billion is a huge difference.

Nevertheless, China spending 188 billion vs USA spending 640 billion is a huge difference.

That's why I posted it...to show the HUGE difference. Just imagine what we coulda done with 450+ Billion Dollars...maybe payoff our loans with China?????

On the infrastructure development, it's much easier when the government controls all the money and owns all the land. If they need a farmer to move for a high speed rail track, he is moved - no fighting over eminent domain, etc. Makes things faster and cheaper. Not necessarily better, but faster and cheaper.

The problem with China's growth is that it isn't sustainable, and we all know what happens to unsustainable spending. They better enjoy all this stuff while it is new because maintenance costs and eventual replacement cost is going to doom them.

On the infrastructure development, it's much easier when the government controls all the money and owns all the land. If they need a farmer to move for a high speed rail track, he is moved - no fighting over eminent domain, etc. Makes things faster and cheaper. Not necessarily better, but faster and cheaper.

It does not appear that the domestic end of the XL pipeline is having any problems in acquiring land for the foreign owners of the pipeline. When the government is in bed with the banksters and multinationals there are no meaningful fights over eminent domain, etc.

China is either really smart or really stupid.
This is a staggering statistic I saw:

"In the last 100 years the US has used 4.5 gigatons fo concrete.
In the last 3 years China has used 6.6 gigatons of concrete."

This One Staggering Statistic About China's Growth Blew Bill Gates Away | Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com.au/one-staggering-statistic-about-chinas-growth-that-blew-bill-gates-away-2014-6)

This is funny


On Foreigner Street in Chongqing, China, there's a separate lane for people looking at their phones.

http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5416e0c8ecad04a1293a412b-814-611/chinesestreet-4.jpg

Read more: Phone Lane In Chinese Street - Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/phone-lane-in-chinese-street-2014-9#ixzz3DPdGvlM9)

I think Chinese HSR is a lot more impressive than their highway system. They literally built the largest in the world in less than a decade. How many high speed rail lines could be built in the US for the $1 Trillion we spent in Iraq? I duo agree that growth China is unattainable but only because the more they develop the slower their economy grows.

Smog in China

http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5148db85eab8ea7966000011-1000-516/rtr3f5fv.jpg

- Tiananmen Square Air Quality Photo - Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/tiananmen-square-air-quality-photo-2013-3#ixzz2fqBbkK3t)

Suicide Nets Installed at the Dorms

Inside Apple's Foxconn Factories: 'Serious and Pressing' Violations - Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/slideshow/2012-03-30/inside-apple-s-foxconn-factory.html#slide9)

Suicide Nets Installed at the Dorms

Inside Apple's Foxconn Factories: 'Serious and Pressing' Violations - Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/slideshow/2012-03-30/inside-apple-s-foxconn-factory.html#slide9)

So American trickle down economics exported to China led to workers wanting to jump down to their deaths.

That story was posted in March of 2012, FYI.

ya, Beijing smog is crazy. definitely worse in the winter.

This is funny

my wife is from Chongqing and we've been to foreigner street. It is sort of an amusement area that pays homage to all things western. A bit cheesy but still a nice Disney like experience of being western. Suffice to say that I was a popular photo op back when we went in 2009. ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veNf-bz99cI