China's Tallest Building

v :formulas>v :f eqn="sum @0 1 0">v :f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">v :f eqn="prod @2 1 2">v :f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">v :f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">v :f eqn="sum @0 0 1">v :f eqn="prod @6 1 2">v :f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">v :f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">v :f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">v :f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">/v :formulas>o :lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">/v :shapetype>w :wrap type="square">/v :shape>It's not enough for China/st1 :country-region> to have two of the world's three largest buildings, and some of the most impressive athletic infrastructures; it's just unveiled one of the world's tallest buildings, standing a staggering 1,614 feet.  The new ShanghaiWorldFinancialnbsp;Center/st1 :place> is 101 stories high, towering over the city's other structures. /span>

Although this building is China/st1 :country-region>'s tallest, it still pales in comparison to the Burj Dubai, which stands at 2,257 feet, even though it has yet to be completed.  Taiwans Taipei101 is Asia's tallest, topping Shanghai/st1 :place> by just 56 feet. /span>

The ShanghaiWorldFinancialCenter/st1 :place>, spearheaded by Japanese developer Minoru Mori, isn't just a unique architectural addition to the city, however.  The center already has a 45% occupancy rate, which is expected to increase to 90% within the year.  /span>

While those rates exceed expectations, turning a profit on this $1.3 billion dollar investment isn't entirely certain, given Shanghai/st1 :city>'s competitive real estate market.  Moreover, by 2014, an even higher building is scheduled to open just a few blocks away./span>

Despite the future challenges, the Center has already survived a 2007 fire, and financial turmoil early in the development process, so investors hope the worst is behind.  In any case, this building's future definitely seems more certain than many of the massive Olympic venues./span>