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Aim high but not for symbols

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-23 07:43

Construction projects only aiming to be the world's tallest or largest should be banned, suggested an article in the People's Daily. Following is an excerpt:

Recently, news about Chongqing's attempt to build the world's tallest lighthouse stirred a heated discussion, with someone saying that the project will serve no purpose whatsoever and be a huge waste of public resources.

Modern China has always been trying to construct the world's tallest or largest structures. The disease is contagious, and many local authorities have caught the same fever - a race to build unbelievable and unimaginable buildings.

But authorities don't give it enough thought, whether these projects will benefit the public or not. They should cool their minds and think of so many ambitious projects that never saw the light of day for various reasons.

The competition to build the world's tallest should shift to building the most beneficial structure for the public.

(China Daily 03/23/2009 page4)