7 largest structures that China has built over the past 20 years (8 photos)

The PRC is the largest power in terms of population and the second economy in the world, which continues to amaze the world with its ambitious megaprojects. Giant power plants, huge radio telescopes and reversed rivers - what else has China built in recent decades?





Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Station



A dam on the Yangtze River in central China. It is officially recognized as the largest structure by mass on the planet and the most powerful hydroelectric power station with an energy production of 111.8 billion kWh.

The total cost of the project was $32 billion. This amount included not only construction work, but also the costs of relocating 1.3 million people trapped in the reservoir’s flood zone. For comparison, the cost of the Crimean Bridge cost 3.8 billion dollars.

However, the project has huge negative consequences, both for the environment and for rural farms located downstream. Moreover, if the dam ever breaks, the disaster will be a death sentence for the 360 ​​million Chinese living in the valley. Therefore, the site is under the close attention of the people's army.

Radio telescope "Heavenly Eye"





The astronomical instrument, built in the mountains of Guizhou, became the second largest telescope in the world with a mirror diameter of 500 meters. The first place belongs to the RATAN-600 telescope, built back in the Soviet era.

The Chinese began looking at dark matter, exploring objects from the era of reionization, and simply admiring space through the “Eye of Heaven” in 2016. The Celestial Empire spent more than $185 million on the scientific facility.

Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct



The longest bridge in the world, stretching between Shanghai and Nanjing with a length of 164.8 km. It lies over ravines, rivers and lakes. About 9 km of the viaduct is laid over the water! The opening of the bridge took place in 2011. According to various estimates, the Chinese spent from 8.5 to 10 billion dollars on it.

Guangzhou Opera House



One of the largest opera houses on the planet, opened to connoisseurs of symphonic music in 2010. The cost of the cultural building was more than $200 million. Today, hundreds of thousands of people visit it every year.

Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant



The first nuclear project built entirely using Chinese technology. The first reactor was launched back in 1991. However, the building is constantly being completed. Today Qinshan has 7 power units, the last of which was commissioned in 2011. And in 2015, a power unit was completed at the neighboring Fangjiashan nuclear power plant.

The nuclear cluster produces a power of 6.5 gigawatts, making it one of the largest energy producers in the world.

Shanghai Tower



The 632-meter-tall skyscraper is the third tallest building in the world, behind the Arabic Burj Khalifa and the Tokyo TV Tower. However, unlike its rivals, the Shanghai Tower is significantly larger in area - 380 thousand m² versus 344 thousand m² of the skyscraper in Dubai.

In addition, the Chinese have created the world's highest elevator - 578.5 meters, which is also the fastest. It moves at a speed of 64 km/h. It won’t work faster - your ears won’t withstand the pressure change

Turning of Chinese rivers



A large-scale irrigation project to match an ambitious state. The project began in 2002 and is not yet completed. According to the plan, the Chinese intend to complete construction work only by 2030.

The essence of the project is to transfer the waters of the Yangtze River from south to north to the basins of the Yellow and Hai rivers. The climate in the north is dry and with the development of agriculture, water in the region has become critically scarce. However, the south regularly suffers from severe seasonal floods.

They solve the problem of the People's Republic of China with the help of 3 channels with a total length of 3900 km. The cost of the project reaches $500 billion; by 2014, a fifth of this amount had been spent.

In China, over the past 20 years, in addition to the above-mentioned objects, thousands of structures and even entire (albeit empty) cities are being built annually. Will the construction boom end when the economy slows? We'll see you soon. But at least the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire will be able to use the constructed structures!