Nanning, September 8 — China is set to open the Pinglu Canal, a 134-kilometer waterway linking Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to the Gulf of Tonkin, which lies between China and Vietnam. The canal is a signature infrastructure project costing 72.7 billion yuan (about US$10.8 billion) and is expected to officially open later this month, according to reports.
Notably, the first command and management vessel, named Pinglu 001, was delivered on Monday, September 8, 2025, and will soon enter service as part of a fleet that will patrol the canal to oversee navigation and handle emergency responses.
Infrastructure and Logistics
These command ships can operate in both coastal and inland waters and carry up to 50 operational personnel; their smart navigation systems will be tested at shore-based facilities in Qinzhou, Guangxi, where the canal empties into the sea, as reported by the state-run People’s Daily. The canal is designed to accommodate 5,000-tonne vessels and is China’s first river-to-sea canal. The canal’s debut is expected to align with the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo, scheduled for September 17–21, 2025, in Nanning.
The project has been under construction for years and represents a major investment in regional logistics infrastructure. The opening of the Pinglu Canal is anticipated to have an outsized impact on trade with Southeast Asia, providing a critical artery for moving goods such as textiles and other products from inland manufacturing hubs to global markets.
Regional Trade Implications
The canal is expected to cut the transit route between inland Guangxi and the ocean by 560 kilometers, or 348 miles. By connecting an extensive network of rivers and tributaries to the sea, landlocked regions in southern and southwestern China—including Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces—will gain faster access to shipping lanes serving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China’s largest trading partner. The canal is part of Beijing’s broader strategy to accelerate freight flow, slash transit costs, and redraw regional development patterns while diversifying trade relations.
Looking Ahead
As the Pinglu Canal prepares to open, it remains to be seen how this new infrastructure will affect trade flows and economic development in the region. With the canal’s expected opening later this month, all eyes will be on how this major infrastructure project shapes the future of trade in Southeast Asia.
