Pinglu Canal set for Sept 16 launch

The Pinglu Canal, China's first river-to-sea canal project planned and coordinated at the national level since 1949, will open for shipping on Sept 16, authorities of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region announced on Monday.

The canal, designed for vessels of up to 5,000 metric tons, runs 134.2 kilometers from the Xijiang River to the Beibu Gulf. It has an estimated total investment of 72.7 billion yuan ($10.8 billion).

"Once operational, goods from Southwest China shipped via the Pinglu Canal will cut inland shipping distances by more than 560 km compared with traditional outbound routes. Overall logistics costs will drop 18 to 30 percent, saving society more than 5 billion yuan in transport expenses each year and reshaping logistics patterns across Southwest China," said Zhang Zhiwen, deputy secretary-general of the Guangxi regional government and a government spokesperson.

The savings will lower corporate operating costs, facilitate domestic and foreign trade, boost household incomes and inject strong momentum into high-quality regional development, Zhang added.

The project prioritized public wellbeing throughout construction. More than 70,000 local residents participated in construction work, receiving about 2.6 billion yuan in payments.

Alongside the canal, authorities built 17 resettlement communities, reconstructed or newly built six primary schools, adding 1,089 student seats and laid 72,000 meters of water supply pipelines to address drinking water difficulties for tens of thousands of residents.

Major civil works have passed official acceptance, while a smart integrated river-sea dispatch platform has been launched online. Real-ship navigation trials and full-scale operational drills have also been completed, with all regulatory permits in place, leaving the canal fully ready for service, Zhang said.

Li Hengchang, a member of the Communist Party of China committee and deputy general manager of Pinglu Canal Group, said the new logistics corridor needs growing vessel traffic and cargo volumes to reach its full potential.

Guangxi has set tentative lock charges that balance sustainable facility operation with affordable shipping costs.

According to Li, commercial vessels transiting the canal's three hubs — Madao, Qishi and Qingnian ship locks — will be exempt from lockage fees from the opening day through Dec 31. Starting Jan 1, 2027, the fee will be 1 yuan per gross ton for each lock passage.

The Xinfu and Qinzhou water service zones along the canal offer berthing, provisions, diesel, clean energy and LNG refueling, fresh water supplies, as well as collection services for domestic waste, bilge water and oily wastewater from vessels and crews.

Cargo recruitment efforts are well underway, according to Lin Anren, a second-level inspector with the Guangxi Development and Reform Commission.

Guangxi has held cargo-matching events in Yunnan, Chongqing and multiple local cities, attracting more than 1,500 participating enterprises, Lin said.

Going forward, Guangxi will push ahead with the Pinglu Canal Economic Belt, formulate and execute the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) implementation scheme, and develop port-oriented, water-friendly industries to drive sustained cargo growth along the waterway.

"The opening of the Pinglu Canal, the backbone of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, marks a new starting point rather than an end," Zhang said.

In the future, Guangxi will upgrade its water transport network and develop its marine-focused economy. It will seize opportunities under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and align with key national strategies, including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

"Using this landmark canal, Guangxi will boost the China-ASEAN community of shared destiny and advance China's new development paradigm goals," Zhang said.