[REVISION HISTORY]

Pinglu Canal officially opens for navigation

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2026-09-16 08:33 UTC → 2026-09-16 23:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Pinglu Canal officially commenced operations on September 16, 2026, establishing a direct maritime link between Southwest China and the South China Sea. The 134.2-kilometer waterway connects Nanning’s Hengzhou City to the Beibu Gulf Port in Qinzhou, featuring a total water level difference of 65 meters. Built to Class I inland waterway standards, the canal accommodates vessels up to 5,000 tons. It is designed to optimize logistics by allowing ships to bypass the Pearl River Delta, which is expected to reduce inland navigation distances by more than 560 kilometers and potentially save over 5 billion yuan in annual transportation costs. Local authorities estimate this will reduce logistics costs by 18% to 30%. The project, costing approximately 72.7 billion yuan ($10.7 billion), serves as a backbone for the New Western Land-Sea Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to strengthen economic ties between China and Southeast Asia by leveraging RCEP policy benefits. On its opening day, approximately 30 cargo ships carrying containers, coal, minerals, steel, and fertilizers completed inaugural voyages. The launch also introduced new shipping routes, including the Nanning-Yangpu (Hainan) domestic trade route and the Nanning-Can Tho (Vietnam) foreign trade route. Engineering milestones of the project include the Madao Hub, which contains the world’s largest inland ship lock by area and the world’s highest inland ship lock drop of 29.6 meters. The canal utilizes three major lock systems—Madao, Qishi, and Qingnian—to manage its elevation changes and serves as a key component of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor to strengthen links with ASEAN nations.

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