Qingdao Summit: Venue showcases China's remarkable construction speed

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03:06

Completed in just six months, the venue of the SCO summit tells the story of China's achievements in infrastructure and construction. CGTN's Han Peng caught up with an engineer who was part of the project to find out the secret behind China's remarkable speed.

HAN PENG, QINGDAO "This position has one of the best views of Qingdao. Exactly 10 years ago, this was the place where the Beijing Olympic Games' sailing competition was held. Now construction workers demolished the old building in just eight days and completed the new venue for in less than six months for the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. "

It was a giant shopping center until last September.

In just over a week, the mall was reduced to the ground. At that time, it was an eight-month countdown to the summit.

LYU KUN, ENGINEER, CHINA CONSTRUCTION 8TH ENGINEERING DIVISION "Normally, it takes about two years to complete the construction."

(Reporter: Two years? So you are four times faster than the ordinary speed? )

Yes. I think it's a new China speed.

By mid-October, the first pillar was laid.

And it didn't take long before the skeleton of the venue took shape.

25-year-old Lyu Kun was one of the 3,000 construction workers.

He says there's no real secret behind the efficiency – just hard work.

Like most of his colleagues, Lyu's not from here. And he never found the time to go home.

LYU KUN, ENGINEER, CHINA CONSTRUCTION 8TH ENGINEERING DIVISION "My girlfriend was very upset about this. "

(Reporter: What did you say to her? )

I told her I'm building some really good work for President Xi, and she says she's very proud of me.

Construction continued even during the Chinese New Year period.

Giant French-style windows were installed to highlight the ocean views.

The roof was also equipped with solar panels as large as ten basketball courts.

LYU KUN, ENGINEER, CHINA CONSTRUCTION 8TH ENGINEERING DIVISION "Even if electricity is cut off, these solar panels can still provide electricity for ten hours. "

Stylish and environmental-friendly.

By end March, everything was completed and that included one small but essential detail.

LYU KUN, ENGINEER, CHINA CONSTRUCTION 8TH ENGINEERING DIVISION "You know, in our house, after we decorate it, there is always this smell. "

(Reporter: Because of the chemicals. )

"Yes, because of the chemicals we used, like formaldehyde. It would normally take half a year to ventilate, but we only had six months to build this place and make it a healthy venue for the global leaders. "

The solution: To use over 200 electric fans to ventilate every corner for 45 days, plus a careful check of residual pollutants.

LYU KUN, ENGINEER, CHINA CONSTRUCTION 8TH ENGINEERING DIVISION "The international standard is 0.1 milligram per square meter, but our standard is 0.01. "

For security reasons, the venue is not open to the media before global leaders arrive.

But Lyu said when the building is finally unveiled, the world will be even more stunned by China's speed and design. Han Peng, CGTN, Qingdao.