Read online that China has more skyscrapers that any where else in the world. It has overtaken the USA with this. They say one of the reasons is because China has so many people that they have to build up and not out. It could also be that China has the soil to support them. I have read that you need a base like New York City has to hold all of the foundations to support these buildings. I am sure there are other reasons. They showed some of those Chinese buildings and they said American architechural companies are going over there helping them out.

The soil has virtually nothing to do with it. There are tall buildings in all major US cities (and most of the rest of the world) and they all have different soils. Houston has the Williams Tower founded over sand and clay while New York City has bedrock much closer to the surface. Los Angles and San Francisco have the worst conditions due to seismic activity (Like Tokyo) but it doesn't stop anyone from building tall.

The reason China is such a powerhouse in highrise construction is the influx of money and growth of the GDP. As cities build factories, they have to import workers from the farms, just like the US did. The Chinese government has planning control over growth and has spent many billions of dollars to bring the country up to modern standards.

Over the past twenty five years or so the US state department has sent engineers and architects to China under the "Friends of America Program". In addition, China has hired engineers and architects from all over the world to help China modernize.

While much of the construction is high rise, much is also mid-rise over what was farmland. The result is a complex change in society to a more Americanized system where transportation of food gains importance.

It's a nice place. I enjoyed my stay there.

Thanks for your input and education. I just noticed the article and thought it was cool to post and to have opinions.