Ten firms are in the running to design a masterplan for a man-made island off the coast of Hainan, China, which will become an eco-tourism hub for the region.

Foster + Partners, UNStudio and Diller Scofidio + Renfro are among the studios competing for the project in Haikou Bay, according to ArchDaily.

Called Nanhai Pearl Artificial Island, the 250 hectare crescent-shaped land is connected to the mainland by a bridge. It is being developed by the HNA Group, which owns China’s Hainan Airlines, as a leisure zone with hotels, resorts, a theme park, a yacht harbour and a cruise ship port.

Spanish architect Vincente Guallart has outlined a strategic vision for the island. The competition-winning design team will develop this vision by masterplanning the site and designing its central buildings, following ecological principles.

The winner is due to be announced in the next few weeks. Construction is expected to begin next year and will take at least a decade to complete.

The full shortlist is:

• Foster + Partners

• Morphosis Architects

• Office of Architecture

• Diller Scofidio + Renfro

• Iroje Architects & Planners

• UNStudio

• KuiperCompagnons

• The Jerde Partnership

• Boston International Design Group