Local authorities have announced that the Pinlu Canal, located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, will officially begin operating for shipping on September 16. This event marks the final stage before the launch of the first major river canal project connecting to the sea, which has been under construction since 2022.
The 134.2-kilometer canal connects the main channel of the Sijiang River with Beibu Bay. It is designed to accommodate vessels weighing up to 5,000 tons. This project is a key element of China's New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
The opening of the canal will provide inland regions of southwestern China with a shorter and more economically advantageous sea route. Using the new route, the journey along inland waterways from southwestern China to Beibu Bay will be reduced by more than 560 kilometers compared to the traditional route through Guangzhou Port.
After commissioning, the canal will become an important waterway connecting China's interior to maritime shipping routes via the ports of Beibu Bay, providing access to ASEAN markets and other regions.