Stops at Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an showcased China’s economic and social development, including industrial developments in Pharmaceuticals and IT. Among the powerhouses of China’s development story, it is Xi’an in Shaanxi that stands out as the birthplace of China’s Silk Road initiative. An otherwise small and sleepy city of the Qin dynasty’s Terracota army, Xi’an is among the largest hi-tech industrial parks in the world and now has a population exceeding eight million. But this story is less about the massive industrial parks in Xi’an and more about the hidden costs of its economic success. This was discernible during the hour-long drive from the city to the industrial park.

Source: The Hindu April 18, 2018 18:45 UTC