Nantong Si Jian Construction Group Co won the China Construction Engineering Luban Prize for co-building the Zhuhai port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. [Photo/ntjoy.com]

Seven projects carried out by Nantong construction companies won the China Construction Engineering Luban Prize, an award given out to high-quality construction and engineering projects, on Dec 10.

At an award ceremony held in Beijing, Jiangsu Nantong No 2 Construction Engineering (Group) Co received three Luban prizes, while Jiangsu Nantong No 3 Construction Engineering (Group) Co and Nantong Si Jian Construction Group Co received two each.

To date, Nantong construction companies have won a total of 107 Luban Prizes.

The Luban Prize was founded in 1987 and is considered the most authoritative award for Chinese architecture. It recognizes the highest-quality construction projects in the country. 

The award, which is handed out every two years, is granted to housing projects, industrial projects, transportation and hydraulic engineering projects, public construction projects, and municipal garden projects. 

According to authorities, around 900,000 construction projects compete for only 120 honors every year.

"Nantong has proved to have the highest-quality construction and services," said Geng Yuhua, honorary chairman of Si Jian Construction.

The total output of the city's construction industry was valued at more than 800 billion yuan ($113.68 billion) in 2018, and the figure is expected to surpass 900 billion yuan in 2020.