Chinese architect Wang Shu, designer of the Ningbo Museum of Art and Ningbo History Museum has been given the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Wang becomes the first Chinese architect to win the coveted accolade, widely acknowledged as the highest honour in architecture.

Commenting on the award, Wang said: "This is really a big surprise. I am tremendously honoured to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize. I suddenly realized that I've done many things over the last decade. It proves that earnest hard work and persistence lead to positive outcomes."

Thomas J. Pritzker, chair of The Hyatt Foundation which sponsors the prize, said: "The fact that an architect from China has been selected by the jury, represents a significant step in acknowledging the role that China will play in the development of architectural ideals.

The Pritzker prize was first handed out in 1979, with the late Philip Johnson receiving the inaugural gong.