Chinese society is oiled by the concept of guanxi (关系) which is the word for uh... it's the like standing you gain through your connections in society. This is why kids of party members routinely drive around beijing in black Audis breaking traffic regulations with impunity because the police can't touch them.

Similarly, if you pass a little something or do the right favours to the right officials, and those officials pass it up the chain, then any sort of building consent or other lawbreaking exercise becomes possible.

At least that's what things were like when I was last there in 2008. I have no reason to believe it has changed significantly since then.