Chinese developer,Shimao Property Holdings began work on a project in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City on Saturday.

The project, with an expected investment of over 10 billion yuan, is the largest property development in the Eco-city to date and is scheduled to be completed by 2014.

The development includes about one million square meters of housing, which will be built with the Eco-City’s Green Building Evaluation Standard, and a five star hotel with over 300 suites.

Mr. Hui Wing Mau, president of Shimao Group, said the project will be developed with the principle of "Harmony between Architecture and Environment" and built with the current best ecological architecture technology. "We aim to build it into a showcase of a modern environment friendly community in Tianjin," he added.

Shimao, one of Asia's largest real estate developers, owns two listed companies, Shimao Property (0813.HK) and Shimao Stock (600823.SH).

By Guo Changdong