The Pinglu Canal: Through the Mountains to the Sea

Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region already has a coastline. So why spend years cutting a canal through the mountains?

The answer is terrain. The 134.2-km Pinglu Canal will give southwest China a new southbound water route to Beibu Gulf, with giant ship locks moving 5,000-ton-class vessels across a total drop of about 65 meters.

A short canal on the map. A much bigger connection to the world.