Pinglu Canal Connects China’s Inland West to the Open Sea

The canal serves as a primary artery for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, bridging a geographic divide that has historically forced goods to detour through Guangdong. By enabling inland vessels to reach ports like Qinzhou directly, the project offers a significant logistical advantage over rail and road transport. Industry experts estimate that comprehensive logistics costs for companies along the route could fall by 18 to 30 percent, potentially resulting in annual savings exceeding 5 billion yuan.

Engineers overcame a 65-meter water-level drop by installing three cascade hubs—Madao, Qishi, and Qingnian—equipped with water-saving locks. These structures utilize a labyrinth buffer technology to manage vessel transit efficiently while preserving water resources. Beyond the economic utility, the project includes ecological restoration efforts, such as composite fishways that have successfully restored migration routes for over 10 aquatic species, and the reuse of nearly 98 percent of the 315 million cubic meters of excavated material for land reclamation and mine restoration.

Local authorities are now prioritizing an ocean-oriented economic belt, conceptualized as a leaf-vein structure where the canal acts as the main vein for large-scale industrial clusters. With Nanning and Qinzhou serving as primary hubs, the region is integrating battery materials, paper production, and chemical industries into a broader supply chain that links China’s domestic market with the ASEAN trade bloc. This infrastructure shift is expected to enhance regional connectivity, effectively turning landlocked provinces like Guizhou and Yunnan into integral components of a maritime-linked economic network.