Chinese energy and infrastructure group Landbridge will consider opportunities to build hotels in the Northern Territory after paying $506 million for a 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin.

As flagged by The Australian Financial Review's Street Talk column, the privately-held Chinese company - which has a real estate arm that develops hotels - beat local and international consortiums to operate the port after it was privatised by the Northern Territory government.

Landbridge will invest $200 million in Darwin port over the next 25 years. Credit:Glenn Campbell

Landbridge will invest $200 million in the port over the next 25 years to boost trade and tourism links with Asia, including improving cruise ship facilities. The port is an emerging destination for cruise ships, with 65 cruise ship visits in 2014-15, the highest number in six years.

"Landbridge intends to grow two-way trade between Australia and Asia, leveraging Landbridge's existing port and logistics businesses and firmly putting Darwin on the map for Chinese business," said Landbridge Infrastructure Australia's director, Mike Hughes.