The Pinglu Canal through the southwestern area of China to the Beibu Gulf and the Pacific, which opened for operations in September, had already handled more than 1.1 million short tons of cargo by late October, reported the South China Morning Post Oct. 30, and was on the way to proving a commercial success. The Canal gives the southwestern hinterland of China access directly to the nations of Southeast Asia, as well as other Asian industrial centers. The million-tons milestone was reached already on Oct. 17.
Previously, in order for cargo from China’s inland provinces to reach the sea, it had to be taken on a detour of more than 550 km, via Guangzhou in Guangdong Province.
