A couple good Shanghai blogs have noticed recently that the under-construction World Financial Center in Pudong is gaining rapidly on its older (and soon to be shorter) cousin, Jinmao Tower.

From Mad About Shanghai:

The Shanghai World Financial Center, also known as the `giant bottle opener', is set to be the world's tallest building and at 101 storeys high will even cast a shadow over Jinmao Tower's 88 storey splendor.

Due to be completed late 2007, the Shanghai World Financial Center will also remove the title of the world's highest hotel from the Grand Hyatt in Jinmao, although it will be replaced by the Park Hyatt - so at least the title stays in the family. One would also assume that it will also replace the title of the world's highest bar, hotel lobby, etc etc.

Will it still be the world's tallest building when completed? We don't pay much attention to such things, but it seems someone announces plans for "what will be the world's tallest building" about every month or so.

Shanghai blogger Marc van der Chijs also noticed the building's growth spurt:

It is currently growing at about 2-3 stories per week, and it should get to its highest point early next year. It will change Pudong's skyline, because the Grand Hyatt will suddenly appear small next to this giant. Too bad the original design was changed, the old design (a round hole) was much nicer, but it changed to a new design (a rectangle), because the Chinese thought it resembled the Japanese flag too much (the building was designed and financed by Japanese).

The two blogs also recently both ran posts about the "new Xiangyang Markets" in town. You can read those items here and here. Maybe they are using the same editorial calendar?

Also on Shanghaiist:
China corners the market on wonders of the world
As far as shapes go, the circle is the evilest