Published on: 2026-09-24
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Pinlu Canal was officially opened for navigation on September 16. It is the first navigable canal in the history of New China, connecting inland rivers with the sea and constructed under state planning and coordination.
The construction of the canal began on August 28, 2022, with a total investment of about 72.7 billion yuan. The canal is a key project of the New Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the western region and an important link within the Belt and Road Initiative.
After the channel is put into operation, cargo from the southwestern regions of China will be able to reach the sea via Pinglu. This will reduce the inland river route by more than 560 km compared to the traditional path, and significantly shorten the distance to major ASEAN ports. As a result, comprehensive logistics costs will decrease by 18-30%, ensuring annual savings of over 5 billion yuan in transportation expenses.
The total length of the Pinlu Canal is 134.2 km. It begins at the mouth of the Pintangjiang River in the urban district of Hengzhou (city of Nanning) and, running along the Qinjiang River, leads out to the Beibu Gulf. The canal is built to the standard of first-class inland waterways and is designed for vessels with a carrying capacity of up to 5,000 tons.
Previously, river vessels could not directly go to the sea and were forced to transfer cargo through port terminals. Direct “river-sea” communication will significantly reduce the number of loading and unloading operations. In this regard, the Maritime Safety Administration of China issued the “Regulations on the Safety of Navigation in the Pinglu Canal,” which came into force on September 15.
Along the entire length of the canal, there are two comprehensive water service zones and six specialized anchorage areas. They provide vessel mooring, supply, emergency support, and other related services. On this basis, a comprehensive digital twin platform for the entire water area has been created, and an integrated intelligent water transport management system for the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has been introduced into trial operation – this establishes a reliable foundation for improving shipping efficiency.
Moreover, the principle of “benefit for the people” permeated the entire canal construction process. Since the start of the work, more than 70,000 local residents were involved in the construction, with labor payments totaling about 2.6 billion yuan. Additionally, 17 new neighborhoods were built for resettlement, and 6 primary schools were either restored or newly constructed.
Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Zhang Zhiwen stated that in the next phase, the construction of the economic belt along the Pinglu Canal will be carried out to high standards. There are plans to improve the modern transport and logistics network, establish port-adjacent industries in the fields of non-ferrous metallurgy, green chemistry, and artificial intelligence. Special attention will be paid to strengthening cooperation with eastern coastal areas and provinces along the new western land-sea corridor. The goal is to create an important hub that ensures the smooth operation of both domestic and international dual circulation.
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