Article at a glance:

Building on China's construction boom

China is under construction—the result of rapid economic growth and a government push to upgrade the nation's infrastructure. Foreign contractors have mouth-watering opportunities, though pitfalls can surprise the unwary.

The take-away

Foreign construction companies should choose undertakings that both require their specialized knowledge and project-management skills and offer commensurate rewards. Residential and commercial projects attract low-cost Chinese competitors, but mass-transit and water projects demand high levels of skill and offer an agreeable combination of sustained work and profit potential.