Top 15 Chinese Super Projects that Shake the World, Innovation Leading Future Development
In China, infrastructure construction has always been an important support for national development and one of the areas that attract world attention. We are also known as the infrastructure maniac by the world. From highways to high-speed railways, from bridges to tunnels, China's infrastructure projects are leading the future development with their magnificent scale and innovative technology. In this article, we will take you on a journey of 15 amazing infrastructure projects in China. They not only make you amazed, but also showcase China's strong strength and ambition in infrastructure construction. Let's embark on this thrilling and exciting infrastructure journey together, exploring China's engineering miracles.
15th place - Beijing South Station
Beijing South Railway Station is located in the southern part of the capital city of China, Fengtai District. It is one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia and is a first-class station directly under China Railway Beijing Group Co., Ltd. It is under the jurisdiction of China Railway Beijing Group Co., Ltd. It is the third largest railway station in Beijing and also the largest and most frequently used railway station in Beijing.
The old Beijing South Station was first built in 1897. On May 10, 2006, the old station officially began its closure and renovation. On August 1, 2008, the Beijing Tianjin intercity railway was opened, and the new Beijing South Station was officially reopened. The station covers an area of approximately 320000 square meters and has more than 4000 workers involved in the project. It uses over 60000 tons of steel and over 480000 cubic meters of concrete. The top of the station is one of the largest single span roofs in the world, almost entirely made of glass. 3200 solar panels are installed on the top to provide electricity to the station hall below. The shape is an elliptical structure, resembling a flying saucer from a distance. From the north and south directions, the central main station building slightly rises, with two steel canopy spans on each side, resembling a horizontally stretched prayer hall.
The station operates dozens of high-speed lines, including the Beijing Tianjin intercity railway and the Beijing Shanghai high-speed railway, with a total of 24 platforms that can simultaneously serve 30000 passengers per hour, equivalent to over 241 million passengers per year. Even the waiting room is very advanced, covering an area of about 250000 square meters and can accommodate up to 10000 people at the same time. The station also has an underground arrival hall and is connected to the city's subway and bus services, making it one of the most advanced stations in the world, costing 6.3 billion yuan.
14th place - Zhengzhou East Station
Zhengzhou East Station is located in Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China. It is one of the largest high-speed railway stations in Asia and the only "meter" shaped high-speed railway hub in China. Zhengzhou East Station is under the jurisdiction of China Railway Zhengzhou Group Co., Ltd. It is now a first-class station. The station consists of a station building and a yard, with a total construction area of 410000 square meters and a total investment of 9.47 billion yuan. The station has 16 units and 32 tracks.
Zhengzhou East Station is an outstanding example of China's high-speed rail development. The construction of the project has the characteristics of huge volume, complex structure, and multiple applications of new technologies. The facade design fully reflects the form of Central Plains culture and Chinese civilization, including the harmonious composition of the national treasures "Lotus Crane Square Pot" and "Double Connected Pot", fully reflecting the solemn, stable, and grand temperament of Central Plains and China. The total construction area of Zhengzhou East Station is about 412000 square meters, with a total of 16 units and 32 lines. It is the largest single building area, largest investment, and most complex urban building in the history of Henan Province. The design peak hourly passenger volume is 7400 people, and the highest gathering number is 5000 people.
The station is equipped with advanced technologies such as high-speed Wi Fi, intelligent lighting, and automatic ticket vending machines, ensuring that millions of passengers can enjoy a seamless and convenient experience here every year. The design of the station building fully considers the activity patterns of passengers entering, exiting, transferring, and waiting, and adopts the streamlined function of elevated waiting, which minimizes the walking distance and time spent by passengers in the station.
13th place - Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant
China's rapid development in the past few decades has led to a significant increase in the country's energy demand. Although it still heavily relies on fossil fuels, it has also invested heavily in alternative energy sources. The Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant is the first 300000 kilowatt pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant designed, constructed, and operated by China. It is currently the largest nuclear power base in China with the largest number of nuclear power units, the most diverse types of reactors, and the largest installed capacity. It is located in Haiyan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province.
The Qinshan Nuclear Power Station adopts the world's most mature pressurized water reactor technology. The nuclear island adopts three barriers: fuel cladding, pressure shell, and safety shell, which can withstand internal pressure, high temperature, and various natural disasters caused by extreme accidents. The first phase of the project started in 1985 and was completed and put into operation in 1991, with an annual power generation of 1.7 billion kilowatt hours. The second phase of the project will expand two 600000 kilowatt generator units on the original site. Construction began in 1996, and the third phase of the project is a collaboration between the Chinese and Canadian governments, using Canada's heavy water reactor technology to construct two 700000 kilowatt generator units. It was completed in 2003.
On January 12, 2015 at 17:00, Unit 2 of the Fangjiashan Nuclear Power Project, an expansion project of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, was successfully connected to the grid for power generation. As a result, all 9 existing units at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Base were put into operation for power generation, with a total installed capacity of 6.564 million kilowatts and an annual power generation of about 50 billion kilowatt hours. It has become the largest nuclear power base in China with the largest number of nuclear power units, the most diverse reactor types, and the largest installed capacity, with an investment of approximately 14.8 billion yuan.
12th place - Hangzhou Bay Bridge
The Hangzhou Bay Cross Sea Bridge is a cross sea bridge connecting Jiaxing City and Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province, China. It is located in the sea area of Hangzhou Bay and is also a part of the Shenhai Expressway (National Highway G15). It is also an important component of urban expressways in the northeast of Zhejiang Province.
On June 8, 2003, the Hangzhou Bay Cross Sea Bridge officially laid the foundation for construction with a total investment of 13.8 billion yuan. Four years later, on June 26, 2007, it completed the closure project and the entire line was opened to traffic. The bridge has a total length of 35.7 kilometers and is a two-way six lane expressway with a designed speed of 100 kilometers per hour. It extends from the Haiyan Hub in Jiaxing City to the Andong Hub Interchange in Ningbo City, connecting all major transportation hubs between two different cities.
A further 1.7 kilometers south of the southern waterway, approximately 14 kilometers from the south bank, is a 12000 square meter sea platform. This sea platform is a rescue platform for sea transportation services and also an excellent tourist and leisure sightseeing platform. The island has restaurants, shopping areas, and spectacular observation platforms, allowing you to enjoy the best views of the entire bay and the bridge extending into the distance.
The Hangzhou Bay Cross Sea Bridge is not only an important transportation hub, but also a technological miracle. With a main span of 6.3 kilometers, it is the world's longest underwater suspension bridge and a highlight of the entire cross sea passage. In addition, the design of the Hangzhou Bay Cross Sea Bridge also considers environmental protection and the impact on shipping, always striving to minimize the impact on the sea area and local ecological environment. The completion of the Hangzhou Bay Cross Sea Bridge has not only improved the transportation convenience in the eastern region of China, but also brought great help to the local economic development.
11th --- Shanghai center Building
Shanghai center Building is a super high-rise landmark building located in Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai. It is mainly for office work. Other business types include exhibition, hotel, sightseeing and entertainment, commerce, etc. The building was designed by Gensler Architects in the United States, with 119 floors and a total height of 632 meters. The total investment is 14.8 billion yuan. Its appearance is in a spiral rising form, symbolizing the symbol of Chinese traditional dragon. The 118 floor sightseeing hall on the top of Shanghai center is the functional experience area of the Shanghai Center Building. At the top of Shanghai, the 360 degree full view sightseeing hall can not only look closely at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Building, the World Financial Center, but also overlook the Bund and the World Expo Park.
As the dominant building on the Shanghai skyline, its height of 632 meters makes it the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world. The building was completed in 2015 and is considered a symbol of China's rise as a global economic powerhouse. It is composed of nine cylindrical buildings stacked together, with a total of 128 floors. The most unique aspect of its design may be the double-layer facade, which provides insulation and reduces energy consumption. The outer layer is made of transparent glass, while the inner layer is made of perforated aluminum alloy, serving as a sunshade to control the amount of sunlight entering the building and thus control heat. This energy-saving design significantly reduces the carbon emissions of buildings and sets new standards for sustainable construction. It is the highest Platinum Certified Building for Energy and Environmental Design led by the US Green Building Council to date.
The building has commercial, retail, and entertainment spaces, as well as the world's tallest shared observation deck, with a height of 562 meters. It also has the world's fastest elevator, capable of reaching a speed of 74 kilometers per hour, allowing passengers to reach the top of the tower in just a few seconds.
10th place - Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport
Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport, with a construction area of over 900000 square meters, is designed by British architect Norman Foster. When viewed from above, it resembles a giant dragon, creating a dynamic building volume. This complete architectural layout, whether indoors or outdoors, will create a stunning travel experience, with a total cost of approximately 25 billion yuan, It began operating during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Terminal 3 is located to the east of Beijing Capital International Airport, and the T3 main building and its supporting facilities are located between the existing east runway and the newly constructed runway. It is the second largest single terminal in the world, covering an area of about 1.3 million square meters and divided into seven floors. The terminal has 66 boarding bridges and 120 boarding gates, divided into three main waiting halls, further subdivided so that passengers can easily find the boarding gate they are looking for. And a new runway with a length of 3800 meters and a width of 60 meters has been built, meeting the requirements for the use of F-class aircraft. It is equipped with the world's most advanced Class III precision automatic aircraft guidance system, which is currently the most advanced takeoff and landing navigation system in China. Aircraft takeoff and landing can still be carried out in very low visibility, and the world's largest aircraft, the Airbus A380, can take off and land smoothly.
This is a massive project. In June 2000, the Civil Aviation Administration of China began conducting research on the medium and long-term planning of the Capital Airport. The overall appearance of the expansion project has been completed, and the installation and fine decoration of various equipment have been completed by 80-90%. The overall construction has entered the final sprint stage. The expansion project will be fully completed by the end of 2007 and will be put into trial operation in February 2008 to ensure normal operation before the 2008 Olympic Games.
There are many activities here that can pass the time. In addition to common duty-free shops and restaurants, there are also fitness facilities, swimming pools, and even several art galleries and cultural exhibition spaces. Unusually, the terminal is about 5 kilometers away from other terminals at the airport, so a high-speed railway line has been built to provide transportation between them, while also quickly connecting to Beijing and China's high-speed railway network. In addition, it is now a hub for various domestic and international airlines, playing a crucial role in connecting Beijing and China with the rest of the world.
9th place - Shanghai Hongqiao Comprehensive Transportation Hub
Shanghai Hongqiao Comprehensive Transportation Hub is a comprehensive transportation hub located in the Hongqiao Business District of Shanghai, China. It is one of the largest comprehensive transportation hubs in China, integrating various transportation modes such as high-speed rail, intercity railway, subway, public transportation, and aviation, providing convenient transfer services for domestic and foreign passengers.
The project cost 36 billion yuan and began operation in 2010 as part of the infrastructure plan for the World Expo. It has now become an important center for public transportation in Shanghai. The core of this hub is Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, the fourth busiest airport in China, which handles domestic and international flights. Adjacent to the airport is Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, one of the largest railway stations in Asia, providing high-speed rail connections to major cities across the country. It also integrates with the Shanghai Metro, directly connecting passengers to other parts of the city through lines 2, 10, and 17, and has a wide public transportation network serving more destinations.
The comprehensive transportation hub also provides retail and commercial space, so there are many things to do while waiting for connection. In fact, it has become an independent tourist destination. Overall, Shanghai Hongqiao Comprehensive Transportation Hub, as an important transportation hub for modern Chinese cities, not only provides convenient travel conditions for Shanghai citizens and domestic and foreign tourists, but also becomes one of Shanghai's iconic buildings, It showcases China's development strength in transportation infrastructure.
8th place - Suzhou Industrial Park
Suzhou Industrial Park was established in February 1994 with the approval of the State Council. It is a key cooperation project between China and Singapore, and also one of the earliest cities in China to have a government led systematic planning of community commerce. It will be built into a high-tech industrial park with international competitiveness and a modern, international, and information-based innovative and ecological new urban area. Covering an area of 278 square kilometers and estimated to have a permanent population of 800000, it adopts an axial layout of functional land from west to east. The commercial area is located in the central area, with residential and industrial areas on both north and south sides from the inside out.
This economic and technological development zone is approximately 80 kilometers west of Shanghai and is a $5 billion project jointly developed by the governments of the People's Republic of China and Singapore. The park has modern infrastructure, green space, and high-quality living environment, with a focus on attracting foreign investment, providing tax incentives and simplifying administrative procedures, and developing skilled labor. The park has become an attractive destination for multinational corporations Magnets for research and development centers and high-tech industries.
To ensure that the labor force has the ability to cope with tasks, Suzhou Industrial Park has one of the best school systems in China, with 130 educational institutions and an entire town dedicated to universities. This has attracted families from all over the country to relocate here, making the area one of the most educated regions in the world. Although initially facing some difficulties due to extremely high rental costs, industrial parks have now proven to be a huge success in order to recoup the initial investment. According to official data from 2019, over 25000 organizations operate here, including 91 Fortune 500 companies. Over the course of 25 years, Suzhou Industrial Park has contributed nearly $120 billion in tax revenue and over $1 trillion in foreign trade.
7th place - Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, located about 28 kilometers from the city center of Guangzhou, is a 4F level civil international airport. It is one of the three major gateway composite hub airports in China and one of the top 50 major airports in the world. In 2022, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport ranked first in China's airport passenger volume with a throughput of 26.1 million people, making it the busiest airport in China.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has two terminals, T1 (for domestic and international Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and T2 (for domestic and international Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), with a total area of 1.1817 million square meters. It can guarantee an annual passenger throughput of 80 million people, a cargo throughput of 2.5 million tons, and 620000 aircraft takeoff and landing. More than 232 domestic and international air routes have been opened in China, including nearly 90 international and regional air routes with over 400 routes.
Founded in the 1930s, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is one of the three major international aviation hubs in China, one of the important international aviation hubs of the national "the Belt and Road" initiative and the "Air Silk Road", and the core hub airport of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. Since its relocation to its current location in 2004, Baiyun Airport has experienced rapid development in various businesses, with continuous improvement of hardware facilities and continuous promotion of international aviation hub construction.
On September 27, 2020, the third phase expansion project of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport began. The main project includes two new runways, a 420000 square meter T3 terminal, and an apron with over 190 parking spaces. The third phase expansion project of Baiyun Airport includes multiple runways and T3 terminal, with a planned total investment of over 50 billion yuan. After the completion of the expansion project, Terminal T3 will be a multimodal transportation complex of Baiyun Airport that integrates aviation, highway, and railway (urban rail).
6th place - Chengdu Tianfu International Airport
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is a huge new aviation hub located in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, China. It is the second international airport in the region and was built at a cost of approximately 71.8 billion yuan. Located 50 kilometers north of Chengdu city center, 50 kilometers northwest of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, and approximately 14.5 kilometers northeast of Jianyang city center, it is a 4F level international airport, international aviation hub, one of the highest level airports in the Silk Road Economic Belt, and the main hub of Chengdu International Aviation Hub.
It was officially put into operation in June 2021 and has become an important gateway to western China after only six years of construction. The airport covers an area of 710000 square meters, with three runways and two terminals modeled after the mythical Sunbird. Its annual passenger capacity can reach 60 million people and cargo volume can reach 24000 tons. The goal is to steadily develop and make it the third largest aviation hub in China, with the addition of three runways and two terminals in the future.
Due to the short operation time of the airport, the surrounding infrastructure is still waiting to be put into use, but it will also be connected to the railway network, subway, and personal rapid transportation system to transport personnel from the terminal to the parking lot. It is also an important air force base in China, equipped with aircraft maintenance facilities, a 1500 bed employee dormitory, and a huge 2800 square meter lounge. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is an amazing modern airport that showcases China's determination to establish transportation connections and stimulate economic growth nationwide, not just limited to traditional central areas.
5th place - Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong High Speed Railway
The Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong High speed Railway, abbreviated as the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong High speed Railway, is a high-speed railway connecting Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in southern China. The line runs northwest to southeast and is the southern end of the Beijing Harbin Beijing Hong Kong Macao high-speed railway network in China. It is an extension of the Beijing Guangzhou high-speed railway, Connect Guangzhou Railway Hub and Shenzhen Railway Hub.
The Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong High Speed Railway is an ambitious infrastructure project that costs approximately 79.8 billion yuan to connect Hong Kong and Beijing by railway, and was officially opened in September 2018. The total length from West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong to Guangzhou North Station is 142 kilometers, which is only a 47 minute drive. Then, it connects to China's high-speed railway network, traveling from Hong Kong to Beijing for a distance of nearly 2200 kilometers in less than 9 hours. In order to achieve this goal, it adopts cutting-edge technology. On this specific road section, the train speed can reach 200 kilometers per hour, and once entering the mainland, the speed can reach over 300 kilometers.
The construction of the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong high-speed railway has had a significant impact on the connection between Hong Kong and the mainland. Although entry or exit from the Special Administrative Region still requires entry procedures, it is a faster, cheaper, and easier option than driving.
4th place - Beijing Daxing International Airport
Beijing Daxing International Airport, also known as Beijing Second International Airport, is located between Daxing District of Beijing and Guangyang District of Langfang City, Hebei Province. It is a super large international aviation comprehensive transportation hub, a 4F level international airport, a world-class aviation hub, and a new power source for national development. Beijing Daxing International Airport covers an area of 47 square kilometers and has the record for the largest single building airport terminal, with an area of 700000 square meters and 92 close aircraft stands. This starfish shaped terminal design allows passengers to quickly enter the boarding gate and helps 27 airlines operate at the airport.
The terminal building of Beijing Daxing International Airport was designed by French architectural firm ADP Ingenierie and Zaha Hadid Studio, with a total investment of 79.9 billion RMB. The terminal has been built into a new iconic building in China based on the concept of energy conservation and environmental protection. The design height of the terminal building is 50 meters, adopting natural lighting and ventilation design on the roof, while implementing lighting and air conditioning time-sharing control. It adopts green energy-saving technologies such as geothermal energy and green building materials, as well as modern information technology.
The airport was completed and put into use on June 30, 2019. It has 5 runways, including 4 for commercial flights and 5 for military use. It can meet the usage needs of a passenger throughput of 72 million, a cargo and mail throughput of 2 million tons, and a takeoff and landing volume of 620000 aircraft in 2025. This number will make it the busiest airport in the world to date in the future.
3rd place - Wuhan Guangzhou High Speed Railway
Wuhan Guangzhou High speed Railway, namely Wuhan Guangzhou Section of Beijing Guangzhou High speed Railway, is also called Wuhan Guangzhou High speed Railway or Wuhan Guangzhou High speed Railway, It is also the first long-distance high-speed railway to be put into operation in the medium and long-term railway network planning, with a total cost of 116.6 billion yuan.
The Wuhan Guangzhou High Speed Railway connects Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, with Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province. It is now one of the most important transportation corridors in southern China. This giant project began construction in 2005 and was completed in 2009, with a total length of 968 kilometers. As part of China's high-speed railway network, it connects with other lines, forming a vast route connecting Hong Kong and Beijing, and has numerous stations along the way, The average speed of the train reaches 313 kilometers per hour, and 16 stations are set up between the terminal station and the two major cities.
However, the initial cost of designing this route was unbearable for most people and had a huge impact on China Southern Airlines. Once the high-speed rail was opened, the number of passengers sharply decreased. However, in the first decade, the Wuhan Guangzhou high-speed railway transported 500 million passengers and provided over one million train services, earning considerable profits in normal years. This means that it is often considered a successful project, proving that its initial investment is worth it.
Firstly, the completion of the Wuhan Guangzhou high-speed railway has made people's travel more convenient. Previously, it took a one day train ride from Wuhan to Guangzhou. Now, the experimental speed has reached 394 kilometers per hour, which only takes two hours and 46 minutes. This not only saves people's time, but also improves the comfort of travel. Imagine sitting on a high-speed train with a speed of 350 kilometers per hour and watching the scenery pass by quickly outside the window, it is such a wonderful experience.
2nd place - Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge
The Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge, formerly known as the Lingdingyang Bridge, is located in the Lingdingyang Sea area at the mouth of the the Pearl River in Guangdong Province. It is a super large cross sea channel connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao. The total length of the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao cross sea bridge is 55 kilometers, including 35.578 kilometers of the main project "Bridge and Tunnel in the Sea", and about 6.75 kilometers of the undersea tunnel. It is the longest cross sea bridge in the history of world architecture, with a long distance, much investment, and great construction difficulties. It costs a total of 126.9 billion yuan. On December 15, 2009, the construction of the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge officially began, and it was officially opened to traffic at 9:00 am on October 24, 2018.
After years of planning and multiple investments, it was opened in October 2018, consisting of three cable-stayed bridges, an underwater tunnel, and four artificial islands, with a total length of 55 kilometers. I chose this design because the bridge not only needs to be able to handle the large number of traffic vessels passing by every day, but also needs to be able to withstand weather events such as typhoons, as well as the continuous pressure caused by tides and the corrosion of seawater.
The bridge has three lanes in each direction and a service life of approximately 120 years, but like all similar bridges, it is planned to be continuously repaired and refurbished, hoping for a longer lifespan. This mega project not only poses significant challenges in terms of financial costs and complex engineering techniques, but also incurs significant costs in various aspects. Due to its impact, it has been facing countless delays and opposition voices. However, since the opening of the bridge, it has greatly promoted economic development and made transportation between service cities more convenient. Now, it only takes 30 minutes from Hong Kong to Zhuhai, compared to 4 hours in the past.
1st place - Beijing Shanghai High Speed Railway
The Beijing Shanghai High Speed Railway, abbreviated as the Beijing Shanghai High Speed Railway or the Beijing Shanghai Passenger Dedicated Line, can be said to be the most important transportation line in China. It connects the political and cultural capital Beijing with the economic center Shanghai, with a total length of 1318 kilometers and a cost of over 220 billion yuan. This is currently one of the most profitable high-speed railway lines in China and also one of the busiest railways in the world, transporting over 210 million passengers annually.
The project began in 2008 and was surprisingly completed in 2011, becoming one of the fastest railway projects in history. The Beijing Shanghai high-speed railway runs from Beijing South Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Station, with 24 stations and a designed maximum speed of up to 380 kilometers per hour. The designed maximum speed is 380 kilometers per hour. The journey from Beijing to Shanghai only takes less than four hours, greatly increasing the parallel traditional railway journey, which takes nearly 10 hours.
87% of the entire railway is built on elevated tracks, with 22 tunnels and 244 bridges along the way, including the Danyang to Kunshan Bridge, which is the world's longest elevated bridge. A train departs every five minutes, and the railway can transport 220000 people per day. Based on only over a thousand passengers on each train, its operational efficiency is very high.