Moving mountains [Built Environment Chinese Infrastructure]

The Chinese government is planning to transform remote, largely peasant-populated, mountain regions into an industrial hub housing half a million citizens. Come 2020, Lanzhou Xinqu, or Lanzhou New Area, is expected to generate some 100 billion Yuan - €12bn - in GDP. And this is just one - albeit the biggest - of five development projects to haul backward, rural hinterlands into an urban 21st century. Hydrogeologists have warned that the Chinese government´s ambitious plans to turn mountain tops into bases for new cities could result in countless environmental problems. According to an expert, these projects need more scientific guidance as important environmental and engineering risks exist. Problems are not always apparent in the very short-term but they might become serious after a longer period, especially if the environmental and ecological [impacts] of land creations are not well considered.