Shanghai Buys Itself a Makeover Before a Fair

From the New York Times:

Although the World Expo may have lost much of the luster it had when it was better known as the World’s Fair, and though the global financial crisis drags on, apparently no one has told Shanghai: the city is planning to spend $45 billion, more than was spent on the Beijing Olympics, to upgrade Shanghai’s infrastructure, build new transportation links and create what organizers promise will be the biggest and most extravagant Expo ever.

Architects and city planners say Shanghai is using the Expo as an excuse to go on a huge spending spree that will help stimulate a weakening local economy but also push forward an already breathtaking transformation in this city of 18 million.