I'm not entirely clear on the rationale behind the construction of such countless skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. After all, instead of a single skyscraper, countless other initiatives could be implemented, more valuable to a community and its urban environment, while creating a similar number of job opportunities. Judging by my own experience traveling around China, megacities look impressive from a bird's eye view, but they fall short from a pedestrian perspective. Many road surfaces are in dismal condition, requiring major repairs or complete restructuring. These observations come from trips to Qingdao, Chongqing, Lijiang, Dali, Urumqi, Karamay, Beijing, and Linyi.