Uncovering the Hidden Pain of Economic Development

China's transportation infrastructure has been developing at breakneck speed. In the past, travelers only had the option of flying to remote destinations. Now a dense network of high-speed railroads crisscrosses the country, cutting travel time significantly.

A 4 trillion yuan cash injection by the central government in the aftermath of the 2008 financial meltdown resulted in new transportation links being constructed at lightening speeds. Mushrooming transportation projects backed by heavy investments have changed the rhythm of life in just few years. They have also become an important indicator for assessing the government's governing capacity. The efficiency of construction has surprised many and at first glance, it seems as if there is nothing that Chinese construction workers cannot build.