Pinglu Canal to begin operations in mid-September

The Pinglu Canal, China’s first major nationally planned river-sea canal project, is scheduled to begin operations on September 16. Located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the 134.2-kilometer waterway connects the Xijiang River system to the Beibu Gulf.

Designed to accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes, the canal is expected to reduce sea transport distances by more than 560 kilometers and lower logistics costs by an estimated 18% to 30%. By linking inland provinces such as Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi, and Guangdong directly to maritime routes, the project strengthens the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC).

The canal aims to shift China’s logistics landscape from a traditional east-west axis toward enhanced north-south connectivity. This development is intended to facilitate more efficient trade between western China’s growing industrial bases, such as Chongqing and Sichuan, and global markets, particularly within the ASEAN region.