Not too hard to find.
China: Dalian, Shenyang
South Korea: Goyang
Thailand: Bangkok
Philipines: Manila
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur
Americas: Panama City
I believe your way of wording things creates more division than necessary. Dalian and Shenyang sound like great places. I didn't visit these cities when I was in China but have heard great things especially about Dalian (other than the massive industrial disaster there last year - I had friends extremely worried about family) and they are comparable to Toronto in population for now. I attached a photo so everyone can see Dalian. Yet it is difficult to compare China to Canada as we don't have a massive population in the countryside.
Nonetheless, our numbers would at least compare favourably to these cities - and that would be quite remarkable for a developed country. I am not sure why you can't seem to just acknowledge that. Being near the top is quite incredible, and as lowly Canadians in a lower growth country, we get a little excited. Join in!
Still, your list is odd:
Goyyang is part of a metropolitan area of 25 million - i.e. Seoul. It isn't comparable at all. (And certainly doesn't have a nicer skyline - I didn't even find Seoul's skyline to be particularly impressive, though it is a great urban city with so much to offer - New Year's there was fantastic I love Koreans! - and they have a couple sweet towers on the way).
Bangkok: Metro population of 15 million - in no way comparable whatsoever and not even worth mentioning.
Manila: Metro population of 12 million + ibid.
Kuala Lumpur: Still 2 million more than Toronto, but you have a point there. It is a striking skyline and is booming.
Panama City: in what way are you suggesting that this is comparable? It is squished up against the beach and is more like a resort town Cancun style than anything.
Though just because we can agree that there are some cities that are similar, that is the point - Toronto is right up there despite being in a developed country. That is all anyone is saying!
As for the GDP figures you cite: they are averages for entire decades. Therefore some years surged ahead with 7% while others did not (normal part of a a non-government controlled economy):
Regardless, GDP growth of 4%+ is pretty fantastic - especially when starting from a high base. What economics class did you take? China's 10% per year is similarly wonderful, and certainly impressive. But when it slows to 8 or 7, as it is this year - and as it will continue to do for the rest of history in all likelihood - will you say "China has peaked"? Of course not. 6% or 5 or 4 will still be great for everyone.
Besides, do you remember the Asian financial crisis? Dubai in the financial crisis? High growth countries rise and fall, too. China also ground to a halt in 2008 before going into massive debt to prop up its economy. And you might say that the ghost cities are "just" cities of 2 million with 30,000 people, but if I had interests in the Chinese economy (which as a Canadian I of course do, since our fortunes are very much connected to China's), I would be very, very concerned about the overinvestment in the property sector there. You can only paper over so many malinvestments - even in China.
And NO ONE is saying Shanghai's growth isn't real, but MANY people are saying that there has been overinvestment in the commercial property sector there, since people assume so much growth into infinity - and it might just not show up. Check out this from the People's Daily (so you can't say it is western propaganda or some nonsense).
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7874187.html
"The runaway growth now seen in the commercial property sector actually presents more of a danger to the country than the expansion previously witnessed in the residential market."
This is China's own government worried here: building tall trophy towers isn't the way to long term greatness. Real, sustainable progress is. (And that goes for Toronto: our builders must stay within the limits of real economic growth, or a crash will ensue).
Last, as for the comments about the crown - I humbly disagree. Can anyone show pictures of crowns that they like? I haven't seen many sophisticated examples. I prefer simple clean lines (the dancing towers are fantastic), they speak of a sophistication and modern sensibility. I love the Shanghai Tower for this.
Or the Shard:
These are much better - and fit so much better with Toronto's style - than something like Taipai 101
Or the Petronas Towers
Or heaven forbid!!!
