Three Major Ship Locks Operating Smoothly: The Pinglu Canal Opens a Major Shipping Route to the Sea for Southwest China

On October 26, the media delegation participating in the 2026 Guangxi Tour of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, themed "Connecting the World through the Land-Sea Corridor and Opening New Prospects through River-Sea Synergy," visited the Madao Hub of the Pinglu Canal. They explored this key hub of the landmark century project, which has been operating smoothly since opening to navigation, and witnessed firsthand the new logistics efficiency unleashed by the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor under the new model of river-sea connectivity.

Madao Hub of the Pinglu Canal

Photo by Li Xinming

Since opening to navigation, the Pinglu Canal has not only become a major shipping artery connecting southwest China to the sea, but also emerged as a popular new destination for cultural tourism and educational study tours. According to Zhang Kai, Party Branch Secretary and Chairman of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd. under the Pinglu Canal Group, as of October 25, the four cruise routes on the canal had operated a total of 416 voyages, receiving over 50,000 visitors. The Pinglu Canal Public Education and Outreach Center had welcomed more than 21,000 visitors. The company had also developed a series of cultural and creative products featuring local elements, including Qinzhou Nixing pottery, Guangxi Liubao tea and Zhuang brocade, and launched a WeChat mini program for visitors to book tours, educational study programs and tickets.

Huang Jiantao, Deputy General Manager of Guangxi Pinglu Canal External Transport Supply Chain Co., Ltd. under the Pinglu Canal Group, noted that vessel operations have remained smooth since the canal opened, with the three major ship locks—Madao, Qishi and Qingnian—operating smoothly and reliably. A growing number of shipowners are redirecting vessels that previously sailed along the Xi River to the Pinglu Canal, attracted by its higher navigation efficiency, faster cargo turnover and better economic returns. At present, the volumes of cargo transported upstream and downstream on the canal have largely reached a balance. Moving forward, the Pinglu Canal will continue to consolidate stable cargo sources from Guangxi's hinterland and gradually attract more cargo from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Chongqing.

As the backbone project of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the Pinglu Canal was completed and opened to navigation on September 16 this year. Stretching 134.2 kilometers in total, it can accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 DWT. The canal has opened the shortest, most cost-effective and most convenient route connecting Guangxi and southwest China to ASEAN markets. For cargo originating in southwest China, shipping via the Pinglu Canal shortens the inland waterway shipping distance by more than 560 kilometers compared with traditional routes. (Text by Cai Juncong)