China’s Pinglu Canal to Connect Southwestern Provinces Directly to Maritime Trade Routes

China is constructing the 134-kilometer Pinglu Canal in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to connect inland river networks directly to the Beibu Gulf. Scheduled for completion in late 2026 at an estimated cost of 72.7 billion yuan, the canal will provide southwestern provinces with a significantly shorter trade route to maritime shipping lanes. By reducing the need to divert cargo through Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta, the project aims to lower logistical costs and strengthen economic connections between inland China and Southeast Asian markets.

• The canal spans approximately 134 kilometers, linking the Xijiang river system in Nanning to the coastal port of Qinzhou.
• The estimated budget is 72.7 billion yuan (around US$10 billion), with construction targeted to finish by the end of 2026.
• The waterway is designed to handle vessels up to 5,000 deadweight tonnes, facilitating bulk cargo transport such as coal, ores, and construction materials.
• Shipping routes from southwestern inland regions to the sea will be shortened by roughly 5,600 kilometers compared to existing routes through Guangzhou.
• The project forms a critical inland waterway component of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, aimed at expanding trade with ASEAN members.

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