Today's Links: Our booming subway, the North Korean border fence and Shanghai the art deco capital?

• Shanghai's booming subway [LA Times]
  The Chinese metropolis was even later than L.A. in building its system. But it is already big, with plans to make it the biggest within a decade.


• Shanghai: Art Deco capital - for now [The Telegraph]
  Just as Shanghai's priceless architectural legacy is gaining overdue recognition, it faces new threats from developers, reports Richard Spencer.


• Don't exaggerate product quality issues--China [The Inquirer]
  Concerns about the quality and safety of products made in China should not be exaggerated because these comprise less than 1 percent of all Chinese exports, according to Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai.


• German Chancellor to discuss Darfur with Beijing [Radio Australia]
  German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she'll discuss Darfur and human rights with Beijing leaders during her upcoming visit to China.


• NKorea building fence along border with China - Yonhap [Forbes]
  North Korea is constructing a fence along its border with China to stop an exodus of its refugees, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.


• Endurance athletes worry about pollution in Beijing [IHT]
  If pollution levels in that city are not abated in time for next year's Olympics, experts say, conditions for the marathon and other endurance events will be much worse than at a track and field world championships last Saturday.


• Beijing drug cheats face London 2012 ban [The Telegraph]
  Under tough new rules announced yesterday by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, any competitor banned for a doping offence which carries a suspension of six months or more will have to wait eight years for another chance to enter the Games.


• China's balancing act [The Seatlle Times]
  "China's government doesn't want Chinese firms to make products that can kill you. But, by making economic growth the paramount goal of state and party, it has created the conditions by which firms may feel compelled to make those kinds of decisions," writes T.M. Sells.
  

Photo from Joon Ho.