Urban sprawl

Cities across the nation are thinking big - literally, so it seems. Big cities are vying to be metropolises, while medium-sized ones are working hard at becoming bigger.

Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province in northwest China, is one such recent instance. The city has hammered out a long-term initiative to turn itself into an international metropolis within the decade. And, one of the benchmarks of urbanization - half of its residents must be able to speak at least 900 sentences in English by 2015.

City officials believe citizens' behavior will determine its soft power and competitive edge vis--vis other metros in China.