Huaniao village in Shengsi county, Zhoushan. [Photo/WeChat account: zjzsrbs] 

Huaniao Island in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province was recently selected as a permanent base for art studies by two Spanish universities, according to local media reports. 

The universities are Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. BarcelonaTech.

A total of 28 Chinese students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in the arts from the two universities participated in a week-long trip to the island and offered some spatial design ideas.

Situated on north of Shengsi Island, Huaniao Island has been dubbed the Chinese version of Santorini, offering visitors idyllic vintage scenery.

By virtue of its unique artistic features, the island has emerged as a popular place to film drama series. In 2016, it won the honorary title of "Poetry Island of China".

The establishment of the two art study bases marks a significant step forward for the government in its drive to build the island into an artistic hub, said a head official from the Shengsi bureau of culture, radio and television tourism and sports.

The island is positioned to become an artistic island integrating vacation, art and cultural creation and fashion.