The Pinglu Canal (), also known as Pingtang–Luwu Canal, is a canal in Guangxi province, China between Xijin reservoir on the Yu river in Hengzhou and the lower part of the Qin River. Commissioned in September 2026, the canal is an I-class waterway that provides direct access to the Gulf of Tonkin from inland Guangxi, which previously had to rely on the Pearl River delta in the neighboring Guangdong province for maritime transport, and shortens the route to the sea by up to . It is first river-to-sea canal to be constructed since the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Description Overall difference in elevation is 65 meters. The lock complexes at Madao, Qishi and Qingnian each have two locks that are 300 meters long and 34 meters wide. Madao locks handle an elevation difference of 30 meters; they reduce water consumption 63% by partially discharging to local reservoirs.
The canal is designed for 5000-ton ships of 90 meter length, 15.8 meter beam and 5.0 meter draft.
Construction Construction started in August 2022.
339 million cubic meters of material was expected to be excavated and used to create or reclaim 835.7 hectares of land. The canal was opened on 16 September 2026, having cost /US$10.2 billion to construct.
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