have you ever wondered why the united states is so concerned about china's rise? one significant reason is china's incredible infrastructure, which is transforming the country into a global superpower.

你是否曾想过为什么美国对中国的崛起如此关注？一个重要原因是中国令人难以置信的基础设施，它正在将这个国家转变为一个全球强国。

take its high-speed rail network, for example. it is the largest in the world, covering over 42,000 kilometers and is highly efficient, with trains capable of traversing the country at speeds up to 350 kilometers per hour. a journey from beijing to shanghai, approximately 1,300 kilometers, takes less than five hours. in contrast, train travel in the united states is much slower and less developed. america's primary passenger rail service, amtrak, has only one high-speed route, the acela, which reaches a maximum speed of 240 kilometers per hour and spans 1,366 miles (about 2,197 kilometers).

以中国的高速铁路网络为例，它是世界上最大的，覆盖超过42,000公里，而且效率极高，火车可以以每小时350公里的速度穿越全国。从北京到上海的旅行，大约1300公里，只需要不到5小时。相比之下，美国的列车旅行要慢得多，也不那么发达。美国的主要客运铁路服务amtrak只有一条高速路线，即acela，它的速度最高为每小时240公里，全长1366英里（约2197公里）。

china leads not only in railways but also boasts the world's longest highway system, exceeding 160,000 kilometers. in comparison, the u.s. interstate highway system, impressive as it is, totals just 78,000 kilometers. china's highway network aims to connect remote regions of the country with bustling major cities, ensuring that no area is left behind in china’s modernization race. these roads are crucial for lixing industries and supporting china's vast manufacturing sector.

中国不仅在铁路方面领先，它的高速公路超过160,000公里，是世界上最长的高速公路系统。相比之下，美国的州际高速公路系统虽然令人印象深刻，但总共也才78,000公里。中国的高速公路网络旨在将国家的偏远地区连接到繁忙的大城市，确保没有哪个地区在中国的现代化竞赛中被遗忘。这些道路对于连接工业和支持中国庞大的制造业部门至关重要。


then there are china's ports, some of the busiest and most advanced on earth. for instance, shanghai port is the world's busiest container port, handling over 47 million teus (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2022, compared to around 10 million teus handled by the united states' busiest port, the port of los angeles, in the same year. china's ports are critical to its role as the world's factory, effectively exporting goods to every corner of the globe. their ability to move products quickly and efficiently is a key reason why china remains the center of global manufacturing.

然后是中国的港口，一些最繁忙和最先进的港口在地球上。例如，上海港是世界上最繁忙的集装箱港口，它在2022年处理了超过4700万个标准箱，相比之下，美国最繁忙的港口洛杉矶港在同一年处理了大约1000万个标准箱。中国的港口对于其作为世界工厂的角色至关重要，有效地将商品出口到全球各个角落。它们能够快速高效地移动产品是为什么中国仍然是全球制造业中心的一个关键原因。

equally impressive is china's urban planning, where the country has built entire megacities from scratch within decades. cities like shenzhen, once a small fishing village, now have millions of inhabitants and are filled with skyscrapers, advanced public transportation, and cutting-edge technology. chinese city designs incorporate smart features such as facial recognition, cashless payments, and ai-driven traffic systems.

中国的城市规划同样令人印象深刻，这个国家在几十年内从零开始建造了整个大城市。像深圳这样的城市，曾经是一个小渔村，现在有数百万人口，充满了摩天大楼、先进的公共交通和尖端技术。中国的城市设计具有智能功能，如面部识别、无现金支付和人工智能驱动的交通系统。

not to be overlooked, between 2011 and 2013 alone, china used more cement than the united states did throughout the entire 20th century—about 6.6 billion tons. this is an astounding amount of building materials used to construct roads, bridges, airports, and cities, reshaping the nation's landscape.

别忘了，仅仅在2011年到2013年之间，中国使用的水泥比美国在整个20世纪使用的还要多，大约6.6亿吨。这是一个惊人的建筑材料数量，用于建造道路、桥梁、机场和城市，重塑了国家的景观。

but what truly sets china apart is its long-term vision, exemplified by the belt and road initiative (bri). launched in 2013, bri is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever undertaken, aimed at creating a vast network of trade routes connecting china with countries across asia, europe, and africa. over $1 trillion has been invested in more than 2,000 projects spanning 140 countries, ranging from railways and highways to ports and power plants—all designed to enhance connectivity and promote trade. by financing and constructing these projects, china is forging economic ties that strengthen its global political and economic relationships.

但真正让中国与众不同的是它的长期愿景，“一带一路”倡议就是一个很好的例子。自2013年启动以来，bri是有史以来最雄心勃勃的基础设施项目之一，旨在创建一个庞大的贸易路线网络，将中国与亚洲、欧洲和非洲的国家连接起来。超过1万亿美元已经投资在2000多个项目中，跨越140多个国家，包括从铁路和高速公路到港口和发电厂，所有这些都是为了增强连通性和促进贸易。
通过资助和建设这些项目，中国正在创造加强其全球政治和经济关系的经济联系。

compared to china's rapid development, many other countries, including the united states, have developed much more slowly. the american society of civil engineers gave the u.s. infrastructure a c- in its 2021 report card, highlighting outdated bridges, deteriorating roads, and congested airports as major issues. while china is rolling out 5g networks and building entire smart cities, the united states is still struggling to repair aging infrastructure and complete high-speed rail lines that have been planned for years.

相比中国的迅速发展，许多其他国家，包括美国，发展速度一直很缓慢。美国土木工程师学会在其2021年的报告卡中给了美国基础设施一个c-，指出过时的桥梁、道路失修和拥挤的机场是主要问题。当中国正在推出5g网络和建造整个智能城市时，美国仍在努力修复老化的基础设施和建设已经计划多年的高速铁路线路。

so, the big question is, how did china become so adept at infrastructure construction in just a few decades, becoming a global infrastructure powerhouse and leaving other countries trailing far behind? it comes down to bold investment, swift execution, and a relentless focus on long-term planning.

那么，最大的问题是，中国是如何在短短几十年内变得如此擅长建设基础设施，成为世界基础设施巨头的，并让其他国家望尘莫及的呢？这归结于大胆的投资、快速的执行和对长期规划的全力以赴。

first, china made a strategic decision to invest heavily in infrastructure early on—we're talking about hundreds of billions to trillions of dollars in investment. china allocates more than 8% of its gdp annually to infrastructure projects, compared to about 2.4% in the united states. for decades, china has been pouring funds into city building, transportation networks, and public utilities. china is not just building infrastructure for today; it is positioning the country for the future. whether through its extensive railway network spanning the nation, modern ports keeping global trade flowing, or futuristic cities designed to accommodate millions of people, china's infrastructure is a key driver of its economic success.

首先，中国做出了一个战略决定，早期就大量投资基础设施，我们谈论的是数百亿数千亿美元的投资。中国每年将超过8%的gdp分配给基础设施项目，相比之下，美国只花费大约2.4%的gdp。几十年来，中国一直在向建设城市、交通网络和公共设施投入资金。中国不仅仅是为了今天的基础设施建设，更是为了定位国家的未来。无论是通过遍布全国的庞大铁路网络、保持全球贸易流动的现代港口，还是设计用于容纳数百万人的未来主义城市，中国的基础设施是其经济成功的一个关键驱动力。

as china continues to invest heavily in infrastructure projects both domestically and internationally, it is laying the groundwork for a future where it remains a dominant force in the global economy. if china continues to develop at this pace, it may ultimately surpass the united states to become the world's largest economy.

随着中国继续在国内外基础设施项目上大量投资，它正在为一个未来奠定基础，在这个世界中，它仍然是全球经济中的主导力量。如果中国以这种速度继续发展，它最终可能会超过美国，成为世界最大的经济体。