Report: Land under 50-plus Cities Is Sinking

Slated to be the China's tallest building upon completion, the 632-meter tall Shanghai Tower conveys stability, if not permanence.

The ground under it, however, is another story.

Spectators were intrigued in mid-February when a giant 8-meter long crack appeared in the asphalt near the tower. The crack was a reminder of Shanghai's shifting and sinking ground, which scientists say makes the city vulnerable to rising sea levels.