According to this article, the latest statistics show that in 2005, China has an urban population of 542 million people. Of a total of 660 cities across the nation, 171 are mega cities with more than 1 million. Ten million people move to cities in China each year. In the next five years, China expects to build over 300 new cities - By 2050, the United Nations estimates that 7 out of 10 Chinese will live in cities. James Jao tells us even more, " For every 1 per cent increase in the nation's urbanization rate (the ratio of the population living in cities), China must add some 300 to 400 million square metres of housing, consume some 1,800 square kilometres of land, pump 140 million cubic metres of potable water, generate 640 million kilowatts of energy, and expend some 270 to 260 billion yuan (US$35 billion) of capital; not to mention dispose of 1.14 billion cubic metres of wastewater each year."