IN THE WAY

China to Flatten 700 Mountains

In order to create a new metropolis.

China must really be struggling for place to put their rapidly growing population. A construction firm is planning to spend billions to flatten 700 mountains—in order to build a new metropolis on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Lanzhou. The massive undertaking has fittingly been called the largest “mountain-moving project” in Chinese history. The first stage of the operation is already underway, but the plan is being criticized for its environmental and financial questionability. A spokeswoman for the construction group dismissed skepticism, saying, "Our protective style of development will divert water to the area, achieve reforestation, and make things better than before.”