China's rapid economic growth is causing some strains - and they are increasingly evident on the roads of the country's big cities. Traffic jams fill news headlines and create headaches for a growing number of people.
Beijing is the capital of the world's most populous country. At rush hour, the city's roads become clogged. The city has 4 million cars, and 2,000 more are added every day.
World Bank transportation analyst Shomik Mendhiratta says a good economy spurs car sales.
"You have seen that China and Beijing have seen double-digit economic growth, which has taken them to a national GNP (gross national product) per capita of $4,000 dollars, with Beijing being maybe two and a half times that," he said. "As you would expect, this kind of per capital income and this kind of double-digit growth, you are seeing an absolute boom in motorization."
Two years ago, China responded to the global financial crisis with a stimulus plan that helped fast-track projects for new roads, bridges and railways. It funded high-speed railway lines, including a new one between Shanghai and Hangzhou, which reduces the journey from two hours to about 40 minutes.
Read more at VOA
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