August 25 -- Beijing Orient Landscape (002310) is rumored to be planning to establish Orient Landscape Southern United Design Group, and it plans to acquire other landscape design companies this year, reports China Business News, citing an unknown source.

Orient Landscape spent 18.75 million yuan to acquire a 75-percent stake in Shanghai Nita Construction Landscape Design (Shanghai Nita) this July, which was the chief landscape design company of 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Orient Landscape has a 120-designer team in Shanghai which it obtained from the acquisition of Shanghai Nita, and it also has businesses in Suzhou, Kunshan, Hangzhou and Ningbo. Its projects include the large landscape engineering at the Shanghai Hongqiao transport hub.   

Southern United Design Group will be formed based on Shanghai Nita, and it will be Orient Landscape’s southern China headquarters. Zhu Shengxuan, ex-chief designer of Shanghai Nita, will be chief designer of Southern United Design Group. He said Southern United Design Group will acquire several design companies with A-grade qualification. There are 12 design companies with A-grade qualification in Shanghai.

Orient Landscape was formed in 2001 and is involved in landscape design and construction. The company was in charge of landscape projects at Beijing Olympic Park Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park, Beijing Capital International Airport's expansion, and Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Field.