China's urban population has exploded in the last 20 years and more than 200 cities in China are expected to have a population of more than 1 million people by 2025.

Beneath the surface of new structures and changing freedoms in China, the country has instituted broad initiatives ahead of its hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games. Scott Tong, China bureau chief for public radio's "Marketplace", talks about the run-up to…