The 134.2km waterway promises shorter routes to the sea and lower transport costs, potentially reshaping the fortunes of landlocked regions
3-MIN READ3-MINFrank Chenin Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous RegionPublished: 11:00am, 18 Sep 2026The opening of China’s first new river-to-sea canal since 1949 – which will boost trade links with Southeast Asia – could transform the economy of the country’s landlocked southwestern interior in ways comparable to the Yangtze’s role in Shanghai’s rise, according to its operator.
The project was prioritised to ease severe congestion at traditional logistics hubs and additional projects were already under way to maximise the waterway’s economic potential, the operator said.
