China’s Pinglu Canal opens inland regions to new market possibilities

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct 21, 2026 shows cargo vessels passing through the dedicated wildlife corridor bridge over the Pinglu Canal in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

The newly opened Pinglu Canal is giving businesses in China's inland regions new routes to coastal and overseas markets, carrying mineral cargoes north and manufactured goods south during its first month of operation.

Opened on Sept 16, the 134.2-kilometer canal in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region connects inland waterways near Nanning with the Beibu Gulf through Qinzhou. It accommodates 5,000-metric-ton vessels and shortens the inland voyage to the sea by more than 560 km compared with the traditional route.

Freight services linking Nanning with Can Tho in Vietnam and Yangpu in Hainan province have started operating, according to information provided during "Water Transport China — Exploring Guangxi by Water", an ongoing multimedia reporting and research tour taking place this month.

Cargo sources have expanded beyond Guangxi to include Sichuan, Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces, connecting more inland producers with coastal and overseas markets.

At Qinzhou Port, limestone from the Xijiang River basin arrives through the canal for onward shipment to steelmakers in northern China and overseas. Previously, transport costs largely limited such cargoes to nearby markets or destinations along the river toward the Pearl River Delta, regional transport authorities said.

Northbound traffic mainly carries coal, ore, and other bulk raw materials distributed through Beibu Gulf ports. Southbound shipments include steel, construction materials, and containerized goods.

Supporting the new routes requires coordination between inland waterways, ship locks, and seaports.

Su Yi, director of Guangxi's pilotage center, said the center has developed a specialist team to support navigation along the canal. Six pilots have obtained qualifications covering the entire canal and Nanning Port, according to the authorities.

An integrated scheduling platform combines maritime, waterway, port, and weather information to coordinate lock passages and port operations. Maintenance crews combine digital monitoring with on-site inspections to help keep the new freight corridor operating safely.