PICTURE CHINA

It can sometimes feel that all of Beijing is one giant construction site. Cranes dot the skyline, scaffolding covers whole blocks of buildings and you cannot walk far without navigating around a group of construction workers digging up the street. In an effort to show the world a “new China” during the 2008 Olympics, much of the city is undergoing a facelift of unprecedented proportions. An estimated 1 million migrant workers have come to Beijing to work at the 1000+ construction sites throughout the city.

This building boom has certainly made parts of the city seem more modern but has destroyed many areas which were traditionally residential. Working class people who have lived in certain neighborhoods for generations are forced to move to the outskirts of the city in search of affordable housing.

To see a sampling of the different construction projects underway in Beijing go to www.urbanplanet.com.