THE designs of two landscape companies from Canada and Australia were selected for the development plans for Xichong, a popular yet undeveloped tourist site in eastern Shenzhen.

The Canada-based DAA and Australia-based ASPECT won first and second places respectively after four months of bidding, a seven-member expert panel announced Sunday (Oct 30).

Planners of the Shenzhen government will finalize the development plan based on the winning designs.

Occupying 12 square kilometers and located at the southernmost tip of the Dapeng Peninsula, the planned Xichong resort aims to become a world-class resort with its perfect natural conditions ideal for sightseeing, conferences, sports, educational activities and leisure in the future.

Xichong has a 5.1-kilometer-long beach on the south and is surrounded by hills on the other three sides. About 1,000 people live in eight villages in the area.

It currently takes between one and a half to two hours to reach Xichong by car from downtown Shenzhen.

The urban planning bureau received 79 applications from 11 countries and regions after it first invited bids in May.

Editor: Wing