Inland Provinces in China Invest Heavily in Canal Construction: Why are Inland Provinces Still Fond of Water Transport in the Era of High-Speed Rail?

Inland Provinces in China Invest Heavily in Canal Construction: Why are Inland Provinces Still Fond of Water Transport in the Era of High-Speed Rail?It is well known that waterway shipping is the most economical mode of transportation. A developed waterway system can generate substantial economic revenue and drive regional overall development

Inland Provinces in China Invest Heavily in Canal Construction: Why are Inland Provinces Still Fond of Water Transport in the Era of High-Speed Rail?

It is well known that waterway shipping is the most economical mode of transportation. A developed waterway system can generate substantial economic revenue and drive regional overall development. China boasts major rivers like the Yellow River, the Yangtze River, and the Pearl River, as well as the Grand Canal, a centuries-old waterway. It seems that China has favorable conditions for water transport. However, in recent years, multiple provinces have been planning or constructing new canals, even going to great lengths to secure funds for these projects. Why are inland provinces still so enthusiastic about canal construction in the age of high-speed rail?

The Importance of Canals Is Undeniable

Since ancient times, canals have played a crucial role in transportation. The Grand Canal, the world's longest and largest ancient canal, created a convenient passage between the north and south regions, which were previously disconnected. It interconnected five major river systems, including the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, significantly contributing to economic development between China's north and south regions and benefiting the Chinese nation for thousands of years.

Even with diverse transportation methods available today, the role of canals remains indispensable. The Suez Canal shortened the sea route between Europe and Asia by nearly 7,000 kilometers, playing an irreplaceable role in the global shipping map. The emergence of the Grand Canal fundamentally altered the trajectory of China's economic development.

Multiple Provinces Invest Heavily in Canal Construction

Today, the centuries-old Grand Canal, considered the "dragon vein" of China's economy, has taken on new meaning with collaborative investments from multiple provinces. Including inland provinces like Henan and Jiangxi, many provinces have been "willing to spend a fortune" to construct new canals:

• Guangxi Pinglu Canal: With an investment exceeding 70 billion yuan, it is scheduled to be completed and operational in 2026.

• Anhui Jiang-Huai Canal: With an investment of nearly 95 billion yuan, it successfully opened to navigation in 2023.

• Hunan Xiang-Gui Canal: With a total investment expected to surpass 150 billion yuan, it is currently in the preparatory stage.

• Hubei Jing-Han Canal: This project aims to shorten the waterway between Jingzhou and Wuhan by "cutting corners" and will require an investment of 78.4 billion yuan.

• Henan Inland River Shipping Projects: With an investment of 141.6 billion yuan, 47 inland river shipping projects are under construction. These projects aim to utilize the Yellow River and the Grand Canal waterways to integrate into the Yangtze River waterway and become fully integrated into the Yangtze River Delta.

• Zhejiang-Jiangxi-Guangdong Canal: This project is in the preparatory stage with a total investment exceeding 300 billion yuan. It aims to be a century-long project, surpassing the length of the Grand Canal.

The total investment for these completed, ongoing, or planned canals has already reached close to 850 billion yuan. So, in this era of high-speed rail crisscrossing the country, why are these provinces still choosing to invest huge sums to build large canals?

Canals Create New Development Opportunities for Inland Provinces

China's high-speed rail technology and construction scale are among the most advanced in the world. The country has already built an "eight vertical and eight horizontal" high-speed rail network, making transportation very convenient. However, the cost of water transport is significantly lower than rail transport, even less than half the cost. Water transport boasts high capacity and low costs, making it suitable for transporting bulky commodities such as coal and steel.

Canal construction can not only stimulate overall development in surrounding areas in the short term but also create new development modes and lead regional economic growth. While China has numerous major rivers, most flow from west to east into the sea, and there is a lack of interconnection between these major water systems, hindering the development of inland river transport.

• Jiangxi: Located in the hinterland, Jiangxi province is surrounded by economically powerful provinces yet seems to lack a strong presence. The construction of the Zhejiang-Jiangxi-Guangdong Canal will help Jiangxi connect with the Greater Bay Area, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Jing-Jin-Ji urban agglomerations, effectively breaking down barriers between Jiangxi and the outside world.

• Henan: Henan's shipping conditions are not favorable. The Yellow River waterway is not conducive to shipping and is affected by the arable land red line. For Henan to develop in the future, it must explore new paths and find new breakthroughs. The planning of 47 inland river transport projects with a total investment of 141.6 billion yuan aims to connect Henan to the Yangtze River waterway and integrate into the Yangtze River Delta for joint development.

• Hubei: For Hubei, which has the Yangtze River flowing through it, the Jing-Han Canal project will shorten the navigation route by 260 kilometers, enabling the narrow waterway to accommodate 10,000-ton cargo ships, generating greater economic benefits.

• Anhui: The trial navigation of the Jiang-Huai Canal has added a boost to Anhui's development.

Multiple Canals Combine to Create a Nationwide Waterway Network

The opening of the Pinglu Canal will completely change Guangxi's dilemma of lacking a good seaport, opening up a new land-sea corridor connecting the entire southwest region, even the western region, to the Maritime Silk Road. Hunan's plan to invest 150 billion yuan in building the Xiang-Gui Canal stems from its recognition of the development potential of the Pinglu Canal. It aims to open up three sea access channels - the Yangtze River, the Pearl River, and the Pinglu Canal.

These canals under construction or planning mostly run north-south. Their aim is to completely overcome the challenge of north-south disparity in China's water network. As these century-long canals are gradually completed, the previously disconnected and fragmented inland river transport will be seamlessly integrated, weaving a vibrant waterway network covering the entire Chinese mainland.

With these canals, inland waterway conditions in China will be greatly improved, and inland provinces that previously lacked development momentum will be integrated into the coastal economic train, creating new opportunities for growth.

Conclusion

Of course, each of these canals involves enormous investments, requiring not only support from the relevant provinces along the route but also strong national backing. However, with examples like the Jiang-Huai Canal and the Pinglu Canal, we believe that these century-long canals will one day become reality, creating a new era of coordinated development for inland waterway and overseas shipping in China.

References:

• China News Network: "China to Build Multiple Large Canals" 2024-08-15

• The Paper: "China is Desperately Building Canals" 2024-08-19

• 21st Century Business Herald: "Who Says Inland Provinces Can't Have 'Port Dreams'" 2022-09-08

Disclaimer: The content of this article is sourced from the internet. The copyright of the text, images, and other materials belongs to the original author. The platform reprints the materials for the purpose of conveying more information. The content of the article is for reference and learning only, and should not be used for commercial purposes. If it infringes on your legitimate rights and interests, please contact us promptly and we will handle it as soon as possible! We respect copyright and are committed to protecting it. Thank you for sharing.(Email:[email protected])