The renovation of the Luohu Checkpoint and the Shenzhen Railway Station has won an award from the land use industry's most prestigious recognition program, the municipal urban planning bureau announced Friday.

The 500-million-yuan (US$62.5 million) project, which took eight years to complete, is one of the five winners of the Urban Land Institute's (ULI) Awards for Excellence in the Asia Pacific region. Another Chinese project, Wuxi Li Lake Parklands in Wuxi, China, also won the award.

"These projects represent the best examples of creative land use and planning in the Asia-Pacific region," said ULI Chairman Marilyn J. Taylor.

A total of 25 projects were entered for the awards, which was held in the Asia-Pacific Region for the second time but has been held annually in North America since 1979.

The criteria for the awards include leadership, contribution to the community, innovations, public/private partnership, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial success.

"Luohu Land Port and Train Station, China's busiest gateway, was transformed into an efficient and user-friendly intermodal transportation hub and multi-level public space to serve the 400,000 people who pass through daily," says the jury panel composed of renowned land use development and design experts.

The Shenzhen project will compete for ULI's global awards together with projects from Europe and America in October.

Editor: Yan