China begins construction of new canal in the southwest

Aerial photo shows the Qinzhou port near the estuary of Pinglu Canal, in Qinzhou city, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The construction works in China’s new canal, the Pinglu Canal, started on 23 May in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to the regional Department of Transportation.

The Pinglu Canal, stretching over 134 km with an estimated investment of around US$10.3 billion, aims to link the Xijiang River, a major waterway in southwest China, with ports in the Beibu Gulf.

The Chinese media agency Xinhua reported that the canal will start at the Xijin reservoir in the city of Hengzhou and end at Luwu Town of Lingshan County, where ships can reach the Beibu Gulf via the Qinjiang River, opening a shorter route to the sea for Guangxi and other regions in southwest China.