1. Main Challenges facing urban areas Shanghai - are their development plans sustainable?

2. In its current situation… Shanghai has been transformed into a global city - but its rapid growth has produced pollution, traffic jams and overcrowding. In becoming one of the centres of the world economy, Shanghai has grown faster than almost any other global city in the past 15 years.

3. How has Shanghai changed? The population increased from 13.5 million to 21.5 million as migrant labourers flooded in from the surrounding countryside, and the standard of living rose even faster, with per capita income now at $7,000, the highest in China The physical size of the city increased sixfold, from just 100 sq km to 680 sq km, as people sought more space and the city government rushed to develop nearby areas, such as Pudong.

4. Shanghai’s “Master Plan” This plan unveiled by the municipal government will last 20 years starting from 2000 The plan itself will cover all three satellite cities to relive congestion and high densities in the centre by developing less populated areas further out Those who are moved out will receive tax exemptions for housing, commercial property, land development and income tax.

5. Shanghai Expo 2010 The Expo 2010 is considered the world's third largest event after the Olympics and the World Cup. The Chinese city is now likely to undergo $1bn facelift to provide a site for the nations of the world to display their wares to a potential market of more than a billion people - and to showcase China's high-tech prowess.

6. How will this impact the country? Mayor Chen Liangyu laid out a plan this year pledging to invest up to $2.5bn in the site, with up to 10 times more expected to be spent on related infrastructure projects Officials predicted that more than 70 million people could visit the city for Expo and tourism would be expected to get a firm boost over last year's revenues of 95.6 billion yuan ($11.5bn).

7. Pollution in China

8. China’s Future Improvement China depends heavily on coal, which accounts for 70 percent of its energy consumption China and the EU will conduct feasibility studies and aim for zero pollution power by 2020 Planners are now looking at how they can restore urban continuity and property owners’ rights, preserve old architecture and plan sustainable urban development.

9. The Key Question… Many believe that after the expo China will shift to a more sustainable style of development The some of the investment will go towards investing for a more eco-friendly development scheme Those evacuated from the current land will then be given new homes in the newly built housing areas