The Pinglu Canal has officially opened in southern China, creating a shorter shipping gateway between the country’s southwest and ASEAN markets.

NANNING: China has officially opened a major new river-to-sea waterway that could reshape how goods move between its southwestern regions and Southeast Asia, cutting more than 560 kilometres from some existing inland shipping journeys.

The 134.2-kilometre Pinglu Canal opened to navigation in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on September 16, 2026. The project connects inland waterways around Nanning with the Beibu Gulf, giving southwestern China a more direct maritime outlet towards ASEAN and other international markets.

Why the new canal matters

Construction began on August 28, 2022, with total investment of approximately 72.7 billion yuan. Built to China’s Class I inland waterway standard, the canal can accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes.

Its biggest advantage is distance.

Cargo from southwestern China using the Pinglu Canal can reach the sea with an inland journey more than 560 kilometres shorter than the traditional route via Guangzhou, according to official Chinese sources.

That shorter journey is expected to reduce logistics costs and improve access to ports for manufacturers and exporters across western and southwestern China.

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New China-Vietnam freight route begins

The opening was accompanied by the launch of two freight services.

An international river-to-sea route connecting Nanning Port with Can Tho in Vietnam began its first voyage, alongside a domestic service between Nanning Port and Yangpu Port in Hainan.

This gives the Pinglu Canal an immediate cross-border trade role rather than simply serving as a new piece of domestic transport infrastructure.

The canal is also a major component of China’s New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which links inland regions with ports serving ASEAN and wider global markets.

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A new gateway from southwest China

The waterway begins at Pingtang River estuary in Hengzhou, Nanning, passes through Lingshan County in Qinzhou and follows the Qinjiang River towards the Beibu Gulf.

China describes the project as its first nationally coordinated river-to-sea canal project built since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

Its opening provides inland businesses with another option for moving bulk cargo and containerised goods towards international shipping networks.

What it could mean for ASEAN trade

The canal’s location makes Southeast Asia particularly significant. Guangxi already serves as an important land and maritime connection between China and ASEAN, and the new route is intended to make those transport links more efficient.

The ultimate commercial effect will depend on factors including shipping volumes, route adoption and logistics costs over time. However, the shorter physical route creates additional capacity for trade flows between western China, the Beibu Gulf and Southeast Asian markets.

Impact to expect

The canal could reduce logistics distances for businesses in southwestern China while strengthening transport connections with ASEAN, particularly Vietnam and other Southeast Asian markets accessible through the Beibu Gulf.