EnchantingGuangxi | The Pinglu Canal project takes shape in S China's Guangxi

NANNING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Initiated in August 2022 and scheduled to start operation by the end of 2026, the Pinglu Canal is a flagship project on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, an important trade and logistics passage jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members. The canal boasts a planned investment of 72.7 billion yuan (about 10.1 billion U.S. dollars). The 134.2-km-long waterway stretches from the Xijin reservoir in the city of Hengzhou to Qinzhou port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The canal will facilitate the direct shipment of goods from Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou through the Xijiang river system to ports in the Beibu Gulf of Guangxi, rather than routing them through neighboring Guangdong. This strategic shift is projected to significantly reduce the shipping distance by approximately 560 km.

By establishing a convenient and cost-effective passage to ASEAN countries, the Pinglu Canal has garnered widespread acclaim as a positive advancement that will enhance maritime connectivity with the bloc.