The main structure of the Shanghai Tower is set to be capped on August 3. The 15 billion yuan ($2.44 billion) tower in the Lujiazui financial hub will be 632 meters tall, making it the tallest building in Shanghai. The new city landmark will officially open in 2015. The tallest building in Shanghai, designed by the US architects Gensler, will also have the world's fastest elevators that will travel to the sightseeing level at the top in one minute.

However, the new skyscraper has brought about safety concerns in the Lujiazui area where many other tall buildings have already been standing. Last year, the Global Times reported that several major cracks were found in the ground near the construction site for the Shanghai Tower. Some of the cracks were wide enough to fit three fingers at a time. The cracks are thought to have been caused by subsidence as a result of the construction work. What do Shanghai expats think about the city's skyline and the concentration of tall buildings in the Lujiazui financial hub?

Simon Hudson, from the UK, student

"I read an interesting article recently about the construction of skyscrapers in Shanghai. I found out that Lujiazui area is sinking! Apparently since 2003, Shanghai has been sinking at a rate of about 1.5 centimeters per year. City officials had to limit the construction of some skyscrapers. The article said that over the past century, Shanghai has sunk over 2 meters! I guess that's the price Shanghai has to pay for having one of the most breathtaking skylines in the world. The cracks in the ground near Shanghai's most famous skyscrapers in Pudong could be evidence of Lujiazui sinking. Apart from the safety concerns, I think the city's skyline is breathtaking, and might even be the best in the world."

Rachel Hall, from South Africa, designer

"I think Shanghai's skyline is amazing but I am a bit worried about the construction of the buildings itself. I don't really trust Chinese building techniques, to be honest. I still remember what happened with the Sichuan Earthquake few years ago when school buildings collapsed reportedly because the construction quality of the buildings was not good. It's good that Shanghai doesn't really get hit by big earthquakes. What worries me the most is the speed that these buildings are built with. I mean, can you really finish the tallest building in the world this quickly, like they are planning to do with the new Sky City building in Changsa, Hunan? I'm not sure if a building that rushed can meet all the related safety standards."

Alex Spring, from the US, teacher

"I love the view of Pudong from the Puxi side. I'm a huge fan of skyscrapers. I think they're amazing. I'm really excited about the construction of the Shanghai Tower. I'm really hoping that I will still be here when it's done and ready to visit. When I first arrived here almost three years ago, the construction of the Shanghai Tower hadn't even started and I can't believe that it's going to be ready next year! I'm amazed at how fast Chinese construction workers do the job. I can see the tower from my apartment window and it's amazing how fast it's changing. It's getting taller and taller every day. It's really something to be envied by a lot of foreign countries. I love walking around Lujiazui and admiring all the impressive towers above me. When my family and friends come to visit, they are always most impressed by the number of skyscrapers that Shanghai boasts and the amazing city skyline. I come from New York City, which is said to have one of the best city skylines in the world. But after living in Shanghai I have to admit that New York's skyline doesn't compare to the one here. It's beyond belief how the Pudong panorama has changed, from empty fields to an amazing jungle of modern buildings. Sometimes I can't believe my eyes when I compare the before and after pictures of Pudong New Area. I really think the government should keep up the good work and approve the construction of even more skyscrapers in the future."