Pinglu Canal sees tourism boom during China's National Day holiday

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The Pinglu Canal in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is seeing a surge in visitors during its first National Day holiday since opening to navigation on September 16.

Tourists from across the country have booked sightseeing cruises through WeChat and travel agencies, turning the newly opened waterway into a new holiday attraction.

At the Qinzhou Waterway Comprehensive Service Area, visitors queued for security checks before boarding sightseeing vessels, with families and middle-aged and elderly tourists making up a large share of passengers.

The service area has also been decorated for the holiday, with cultural and creative products inspired by the canal and the surrounding region on display, including Qinzhou's traditional Nixing pottery tea sets and postcards featuring scenery along the waterway.

Cargo vessels loaded with production and daily necessities navigate in an orderly manner through the Qingnian Hub section of the Pinglu Canal in Qinzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, September 19, 2026. /VCG

During the National Day holiday, sightseeing cruises departing from the Qinzhou service area mainly travel to the Qingnian Hub, with a round trip taking about two hours.

Six round-trip services between the two sites are expected on October 1.

On board, documentaries about the construction of the Pinglu Canal are shown to give visitors a closer look at the story behind the project. Maritime personnel also accompany the cruises to oversee operations and provide safety reminders throughout the journey.

The route offers passengers views of the canal as it passes through urban Qinzhou, including a series of bridges spanning the waterway and forming part of the city's transport network.

Around 7,800 tourist visits are expected at the Qinzhou Waterway Comprehensive Service Area during the National Day holiday, with 52 sightseeing cruise services scheduled, according to the service area.

The Pinglu Canal officially opens to navigation in Qinzhou, September 16, 2026. /VCG

The facilities supporting the holiday cruises are also part of the infrastructure serving commercial shipping along the canal.

Navigation markers have been installed under the supervision of maritime authorities to guide vessels through the waterway and identify designated areas, including the waterway service zone.

The Qinzhou Waterway Comprehensive Service Area can accommodate 23 vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes as well as seven working vessels. In addition to sightseeing boats, cargo ships can stop there for refueling and other services.

The area is equipped with facilities supplying diesel and liquefied natural gas, as well as shore power. Vessels can connect to the onshore electricity supply while berthed, reducing the need to burn diesel and helping cut emissions.

Stretching 134.2 kilometers, the Pinglu Canal connects the Xijiang River shipping network with the Beibu Gulf. Its opening in September created a more direct river-to-sea route for western and southwestern China and marked the completion of China's first major river-to-sea canal project planned and coordinated at the national level since 1949.

Less than three weeks after its opening, the National Day holiday is offering another glimpse of the canal's role beyond freight transport – as a new destination linking the waterway with tourism and local cultural experiences.