Pinglu Canal connects rivers, sea, and new opportunities
The Pinglu Canal, China's first major canal constructed since 1949 to directly connect inland waterways to the sea, has officially opened. This 134.2-kilometer waterway provides southwest China with a shorter, more cost-effective outlet to the sea, significantly reducing logistics costs for businesses. It is a landmark infrastructure project linking the Belt and Road Initiative and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
Why it matters
This canal is a significant infrastructure development that enhances China's trade capabilities and regional economic integration, potentially impacting global supply chains and the efficiency of goods movement from southwest China. It underscores China's continued investment in strategic infrastructure projects.
BEIJING , Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily
The Pinglu Canal officially opened to navigation on Sept. 16. As a landmark infrastructure linking the Belt and Road Initiative and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, it is China's first major canal constructed since 1949 to directly connect inland waterways to the sea.
Stretching 134.2 kilometers, this waterway offers southwest China its shortest, most cost-effective, and most convenient outlet to the sea, carving a new landmark into China's extensive inland river network.
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