The Xiangsi Bridge: A Critical Arch in the Pinglu Canal’s Strategic Waterway

1. Executive Summary

The Pinglu Canal Xiangsi Bridge, a significant component of the transformative Pinglu Canal project in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, has recently achieved a critical construction milestone with the successful joining of its arch ribs. This development marks a substantial step forward for the bridge and, by extension, for the entire 134.2-kilometer canal. The Pinglu Canal is engineered to establish a new, shorter, and more economical waterway connecting Southwest China directly to the Beibu Gulf, thereby significantly enhancing trade routes and connectivity with ASEAN nations. The Xiangsi Bridge, a 992.08-meter-long structure featuring a 175-meter main span steel tube concrete arch, exemplifies the modern engineering solutions being deployed in this strategically vital infrastructure endeavor.¹ As the Pinglu Canal progresses towards its planned 2026 completion, the Xiangsi Bridge stands as a testament to the project’s advancing construction and its anticipated role in reshaping regional logistics and economic landscapes.²

2. The Pinglu Canal: A New Arterial Waterway for Southern China

The Pinglu Canal project is more than a mere feat of engineering; it represents a strategic initiative poised to redefine maritime logistics and economic corridors in Southern China and its connections with Southeast Asia. Its development is driven by a clear vision to create a more efficient and direct path to the sea for China’s inland southwestern provinces.

• 2.1. Strategic Vision and Economic Impetus

The primary strategic objective of the Pinglu Canal is the creation of a significantly shorter and more cost-effective waterway from the inland regions of Southwest China, including Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou, to the maritime ports of the Beibu Gulf.² This new route is designed to bypass the traditional, longer passage through the Pearl River Delta via Guangdong province, a diversion that is projected to reduce shipping distances by approximately 560 kilometers.² Such a reduction in transit distance is anticipated to yield substantial economic benefits, with estimated annual transportation cost savings exceeding 5.2 billion yuan (approximately $753.2 million USD) for regions along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.⁴

The canal is a flagship project within this New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a broader strategic undertaking jointly developed by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN member states.² Consequently, the Pinglu Canal is not only a domestic infrastructure upgrade but also a crucial enabler for enhancing trade volumes and economic integration with ASEAN countries.⁵ By providing a more direct and efficient passage, the canal is expected to facilitate the growth of a “seaward economy” in Guangxi and neighboring inland provinces, thereby stimulating regional development and potentially rebalancing economic activity towards these areas.⁴ This strategic realignment of trade routes aims to diversify China’s logistical pathways and bolster supply chain resilience, particularly for its western regions, while simultaneously deepening economic ties with the strategically important ASEAN bloc.

• 2.2. Project Scale and Key Features

The Pinglu Canal is a monumental undertaking, reflected in its physical scale and planned investment. The waterway will span 134.2 kilometers, originating from the Xijin Reservoir in Hengzhou and navigating southwards to connect with Qinzhou Port on the Beibu Gulf.³ The total planned investment for this ambitious project is approximately 72.7 billion yuan (around $10.1 billion USD), underscoring its national significance.²

Engineered as an Inland River I-class waterway, the canal is designed to accommodate 5,000-ton ships, with representative vessel dimensions of 90 meters in length, 15.8 meters in beam, and a draft of 5.0 meters.³ A critical element of the canal’s infrastructure involves the construction of three major two-line, single-stage ship lock complexes at Madao, Qishi, and Qingnian.³ These locks are not only substantial in size but also incorporate innovative water-conserving designs, reportedly saving up to 63% of water compared to conventional lock systems by discharging water into local reservoirs.³ The Madao locks alone will overcome an elevation difference of 30 meters out of the total 65-meter elevation difference between the Xijin reservoir and sea level.³

The construction involves the excavation of an estimated 339 million cubic meters of earth and stone, a volume so vast that it positions the Pinglu Canal as the largest canal construction activity in China since the consolidation of the Grand Canal during the Ming dynasty.³ Plans are in place for the comprehensive utilization of this excavated material, primarily for land reclamation and elevating existing land, which is expected to create approximately 835.7 hectares of new land.³ This approach reflects modern construction practices aimed at resource efficiency and minimizing environmental waste.

Table 1: Pinglu Canal – Key Project Facts

The sheer scale of this project, combined with advanced engineering features, highlights its ambition to serve as a pivotal piece of modern infrastructure.

• 2.3. Current Construction Status and Technological Integration

The Pinglu Canal project is advancing at a significant pace. As of March 31, 2025, cumulative investment had reached approximately 51.8 billion yuan, constituting 71.2% of the total estimated investment.⁷ Earth and stone excavation work was substantially progressed, with around 279 million cubic meters removed, representing 88.6% of the total project volume.⁷ Similarly, concrete pouring for the main bodies of the ship locks had reached approximately 4.05 million cubic meters, or 69.3% of the total required.⁷ By August 2024, the overall construction was reported to be halfway complete.⁹

This rapid progress is facilitated by a considerable deployment of resources, including nearly 20,000 construction workers and over 4,800 units of large-scale equipment operating along the canal’s length.⁷ Recent milestones underscore this momentum. In May 2025, the Qingnian Hub Power Station successfully passed grid-connection tests and became operational. This station, equipped with two 1.6MW units, is designed to generate 13 GWh of clean electricity annually, powering the canal’s pumping stations and lighting systems while also featuring eco-friendly fish passages.¹⁰ Furthermore, the gravity wharf at the Qinzhou Comprehensive Water Service Area, the largest of its kind in Guangxi, was topped out in April 2025. This 142,200-square-meter facility will provide essential navigation management, emergency support, and supply services for vessels.¹⁰

Beyond the physical construction, the Pinglu Canal project is actively integrating advanced digital technologies. The management team is exploring AI-enabled solutions for waterway infrastructure monitoring, maintenance, dredging, autonomous vessel navigation, and comprehensive multimodal logistics information services.⁷ The integration of platforms like DeepSeek is intended to enhance intelligent scheduling, navigation, perception, and operational applications, heralding a new era of intelligent waterway management.⁷ This proactive incorporation of AI and digital systems from the construction phase into planned operations indicates a forward-looking approach, aiming to optimize efficiency, safety, and integration with broader logistics networks, potentially setting new global standards for canal management. The concurrent development of essential auxiliary facilities like power stations and service wharves alongside the main canal work demonstrates a holistic and integrated planning strategy, crucial for the canal’s timely operationalization by the end of 2026.

3. In Focus: The Pinglu Canal Xiangsi Bridge

Among the numerous structures being erected as part of the Pinglu Canal project, the Xiangsi Bridge stands out as a key piece of cross-canal infrastructure. Its design and construction progress offer insights into the engineering complexities and strategic considerations involved in ensuring seamless land and water transport integration.

• 3.1. Location and Context within the Canal Network

The Xiangsi Bridge is one of 27 bridges planned along the 134.2-kilometer route of the Pinglu Canal.¹¹ These bridges are essential “cross-canal facilities” ⁴, designed to maintain existing land-based transportation networks and prevent the new waterway from becoming a barrier to local and regional connectivity. While the provided information does not specify the precise geographical coordinates of the Xiangsi Bridge or its exact location relative to the canal’s start and end points (Xijin Reservoir and Qinzhou Port, respectively ¹²), its role is clearly defined within the overall project scope. The Guangxi University Bridge Construction Control Technology Research Team is involved in monitoring the Xiangsi Bridge, along with five other major bridges on the canal, indicating its significance within the network.¹⁴ The construction of these numerous bridges is fundamental to the canal’s overall viability, ensuring that the new artery for waterborne trade does not inadvertently sever vital terrestrial links.

• 3.2. Purpose and Connectivity

The primary function of the Pinglu Canal Xiangsi Bridge is to carry vehicular traffic over the newly excavated canal channel, thereby maintaining or establishing essential road connectivity that would otherwise be disrupted by the waterway’s construction. However, a notable information gap exists in the available documentation: the specific name, designation, or route number of the road or highway that the Xiangsi Bridge will carry is not explicitly mentioned.¹

For context, other bridges along the Pinglu Canal are known to carry significant roadways. For instance, the G325 Guangnan Line Qinjiang Bridge is a major structure on the canal that carries National Highway G325.¹⁶ This suggests that the bridges along the Pinglu Canal serve various levels of road infrastructure, and the Xiangsi Bridge likely facilitates an important local or regional transportation route. Without specific details on the road it serves, a complete assessment of its strategic importance within the land transport network remains somewhat limited, a point an analyst would register.

• 3.3. Architectural Design and Technical Specifications

The Pinglu Canal Xiangsi Bridge is a substantial structure with specific engineering characteristics. It has a total length of 992.08 meters.¹ The main bridge section is distinguished by its lower-bearing steel tube concrete arch design, featuring a significant main span of 175 meters.¹ A notable design element is the dumbbell-shaped cross-section of its arch ribs, a specialized profile likely chosen for optimal structural performance and material efficiency.¹

Steel tube concrete arch bridges are a modern structural form that leverages the tensile strength of steel and the compressive strength and stiffness of concrete. This combination often results in lighter, more economical, and aesthetically pleasing structures for spans of this magnitude, well-suited for crossing a major new waterway like the Pinglu Canal.

Table 2: Xiangsi Bridge – Technical Profile & Milestones

This technical profile underscores the application of advanced engineering principles in the bridge’s design and construction.

• 3.4. Construction Progress and Key Achievements

A critical milestone in the construction of the Xiangsi Bridge was achieved on May 22, 2025, with the successful joining (closure) of its arch ribs.¹ This event is pivotal in arch bridge construction as it signifies the completion of the primary load-bearing arch structure. According to reports, this successful closure “lays a solid foundation for the subsequent construction of concrete infusion into the arch rib steel pipes,” which is the next phase in strengthening and finalizing the arch.¹

An earlier report from February 28, 2025, mentioned the successful joining of the bridge’s “main beam”.¹⁹ While the terminology differs slightly, the May 22nd arch rib joining appears to be the more specific and critical event for the completion of the arch element itself. The successful joining of the arch ribs indicates that the two halves of the arch have met with the required precision, establishing the fundamental geometry of the bridge and paving the way for subsequent stages such as deck construction. This achievement is a strong positive indicator of the bridge’s progress towards structural completion.

• 3.5. Engineering and Monitoring

The complexity and scale of the Xiangsi Bridge, along with other major bridges on the Pinglu Canal, necessitate rigorous technical oversight. The Guangxi University Bridge Construction Control Technology Research Team plays a crucial role in this regard, being responsible for monitoring the Xiangsi Bridge and five other key bridge projects along the canal.¹⁴ This involvement highlights a commitment to quality control, structural integrity, and safety throughout the construction process. Such academic-industry collaboration allows for the application of specialized expertise and advanced monitoring techniques, including precise surveying, sensor technology, and analytical modeling, to manage the inherent challenges of constructing large and complex bridge structures over a major new waterway. This approach reflects best practices in modern infrastructure development, aiming to ensure that these critical assets are built to the highest standards.

4. Navigating Challenges and Embracing Innovation

The construction of a project as vast and complex as the Pinglu Canal, including its numerous bridges like Xiangsi, inevitably involves overcoming significant engineering challenges and addressing environmental considerations.

• 4.1. Engineering Challenges (Inferred and Contextual)

While the available information does not detail specific engineering challenges encountered during the construction of the Xiangsi Bridge itself, the experiences from other similar bridge projects on the Pinglu Canal provide valuable context. Large arch bridge construction over waterways typically involves hurdles such as ensuring high precision in arch alignment and managing the lifting and installation of large, heavy segments. For example, the Qishi Hub Bridge, another structure on the Pinglu Canal, involved lifting segments weighing up to 99 tons and faced challenges related to narrow working spaces and high-altitude assembly precision.¹⁵

Furthermore, the G325 Guangnan Line Qinjiang Bridge, also an arch bridge on the canal, required “millimeter-grade precise installation” for its arch ribs, achieved through innovative construction methods.¹⁶ The Jinhaiwan Bridge, another arch bridge monitored by the same Guangxi University team as Xiangsi, reportedly faced difficulties related to maintaining high installation accuracy under the influence of strong winds and temperature variations.¹⁴ Given that the Xiangsi Bridge is a 175-meter main span arch structure, it is highly probable that its construction demanded similar levels of precision, sophisticated logistical planning for component delivery and erection over water, and careful management of environmental factors to ensure structural integrity and timely completion. The successful arch rib joining suggests these implicit complexities were effectively managed.

• 4.2. Environmental Considerations and Mitigation (Broader Canal Context)

Large-scale infrastructure projects like the Pinglu Canal invariably interact with the surrounding environment, necessitating careful consideration and mitigation strategies. Studies have indicated that the canal’s construction, while promoting economic development, could pose threats to regional wildlife habitat connectivity, potentially leading to a decrease in available habitat area and a reduction in wildlife migration corridors.²⁰

In response to these concerns, the Pinglu Canal project incorporates several environmental considerations. There is a stated commitment to “world-class biodiversity protection design”.¹¹ Tangible examples of eco-friendly design include the incorporation of dedicated fish passages in structures like the Qingnian Hub Power Station to protect aquatic biodiversity.¹⁰ Moreover, the project aims to achieve the status of a “green canal.” This involves the comprehensive utilization of the massive volumes of excavated earth and stone, primarily for land reclamation, thereby minimizing waste and creating new land resources.³ There is also a focus on promoting the use of clean energy sources, such as hydrogen, electric power, and liquefied natural gas, for vessels navigating the canal.¹¹ This dual approach—acknowledging potential environmental impacts while actively implementing mitigation measures and sustainable practices—reflects the contemporary challenge of balancing significant economic development with environmental stewardship. The long-term success and acceptance of the Pinglu Canal will, in part, depend on the efficacy of these environmental protection efforts.

5. Conclusion: The Xiangsi Bridge and the Future of Regional Connectivity

The successful joining of the arch ribs of the Pinglu Canal Xiangsi Bridge on May 22, 2025, is more than a technical achievement; it is a significant marker of progress for the entire Pinglu Canal project.¹ As one of 27 bridges facilitating land transport across this new waterway, the Xiangsi Bridge is an essential enabler of the canal’s primary mission: to transform regional and international trade logistics for Southwest China.¹¹

The Pinglu Canal itself is poised to be a transformative force. By creating a shorter, more economical route to the Beibu Gulf, it promises to unlock new economic potential for Guangxi and the broader southwestern region, fostering greater integration with ASEAN nations and enhancing the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.² The timely completion and operationalization of its constituent parts, including critical structures like the Xiangsi Bridge, are vital for realizing these ambitious strategic objectives.

The construction of the Pinglu Canal, with its advanced engineering solutions, such as water-conserving locks and the integration of AI for smart management, alongside the sophisticated design of bridges like Xiangsi, represents a monumental feat of modern engineering.³ The project underscores a commitment to not only enhancing transportation efficiency but also to incorporating elements of environmental consideration and technological innovation. The Xiangsi Bridge, therefore, stands as a symbol of this multifaceted endeavor—a concrete arch supporting a visionary waterway that aims to reshape economic geography and strengthen China’s connectivity with its Southeast Asian partners for decades to come. Its progress is a clear indication that this legacy project is steadily advancing towards its 2026 operational target.

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