The Pinglu Canal, which opened to navigation in September 2026, is the first waterway in China to connect an inland river system with the sea. Carving a path from the Xijiang River in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the Beibu Gulf, it means bulk cargo from southwestern China no long needs to travel the long way to Guangzhou Port to reach the ocean.

How did this 100-year-old ambition flow from blueprint to reality? Watch the CGTN documentary "From Vision to Connection" to find out more.