These cities were often thrown up fast and with little attention to sustainability; the average life span of a building in China is only 25 to 30 years. (By comparison, the average lifespan of a U.S. building is 74 years, and in the U.K. it's 132 years.)

In 2026, the average lifespan of a residential building in China is estimated to be between 25 and 35 years, which is significantly shorter than the 70–100 year lifespans common in Europe or the US. This "short-life" phenomenon is driven by several factors: the rapid, high-intensity construction methods used during the 1990s and 2000s, the use of lower-quality materials (like unwashed sea sand in concrete), and a "land finance" model that encourages local governments to demolish older structures to sell land leases for newer, denser developments. However, in 2026, the Chinese government has begun implementing stricter "Service Life" regulations, pushing for a move toward "Skeleton-Infill" designs meant to last 50+ years. Despite these new standards, many "migrant worker" built apartments from the early 2000s are already facing structural obsolescence.