8. High-speed rail

No sector better symbolizes China's shift from a nation of labor-intensive manufacturing to one that excels in sophisticated technology than the high-speed rail. Just a few years ago, the high-speed rail was a new concept to most Chinese people. Now, China boasts the most extensive high-speed railway network in the world. By the end of 2015, its total operating length had reached 19,000 kilometers, accounting for more than half of all high-speed rails across the world.