Pinglu Canal Tourism: Cruises, Tickets and Getting There

Sightseeing route overview

View the Pinglu Canal map →

2026 National Day trip checklist

• Where to board: Nanning-section cruises depart from the Xinfu Water Service Area; Qinzhou-section cruises depart from the Qinzhou Water Service Area. See "Key tourism locations" below for details and external map navigation;
• Nanning section: the Xinfu – Madao Hub loop (about 25 km, roughly 2 hours) and the Xinfu – Pingtang River Estuary (Pingtangkou) loop (about 33 km, roughly 2.5 hours); per public reports, departures at 10:00 and 15:00 daily, subject to the operator's latest information;
• Qinzhou section: the city waterway line to Qingnian Hub (about 27 km, roughly 90 minutes, CNY 138, about 6 departures daily) and the river-and-sea sightseeing line toward Maowei Sea (about 51 km, roughly 3 hours, CNY 178, about 2 departures daily);
• How to book: WeChat mini-programs — "南宁水上游" for the Nanning section, "泰禾畅游" for the Qinzhou section; the Education Center is free with real-name booking via "平陆运河文旅". Nanning-section tickets are also sold on site at the Xinfu Water Service Area. WeChat booking usually requires a Chinese phone number, which foreign visitors should plan for;
• How to get there: from Nanning, a shuttle bus runs from Fengling bus terminal to the Xinfu Water Service Area (one morning and one afternoon departure daily), with combined bus+cruise tickets; for Qinzhou, take the high-speed rail to Qinzhou East station and transfer to local transport; by car, use trunk expressways such as G75, and allow extra time for queuing, security checks and ticket exchange during the holiday; if arriving by air, transport connections between the airports and the water service areas have been reported — check with the airports and operators for the latest arrangements before departure;
• Holiday notes: queues are possible at terminals during the holiday; book only through official operator channels and do not board unlicensed vessels; follow on-site safety instructions on the water; reconfirm the latest information before setting out;
• How much time: half a day — the Qinzhou city waterway line (about 90 minutes) or either Nanning loop (about 2–2.5 hours); a Nanning day trip — a loop cruise from the Xinfu Water Service Area, or the "Nanning — Xinfu — jasmine" day tour (from CNY 168 per person); a Qinzhou day trip — cruise from the Qinzhou Water Service Area, then visit the Pinglu Canal Education Center (free, booking required).

View the Pinglu Canal route map →Learn about the Madao, Qishi and Qingnian hubs →

Sightseeing in the Nanning section

• Xinfu terminal – Madao hub loop: about 25 km, roughly 2 hours, with a close-up view of the canal's controlling lock hub;
• Xinfu terminal – Pingtangkou loop: about 33 km, roughly 2.5 hours, featuring the confluence of the Xijiang and the canal;
• Per public reports, the two loops depart from Xinfu at 10:00 and 15:00 respectively; schedules are subject to the operator's latest announcements.

Sightseeing in the Qinzhou section

• Urban river route (to Qingnian hub, no lock passage): about 27 km, roughly 90 minutes, passing Pingshan Island and the old Pingnan ferry landing on Qinzhou's historic street, returning along the same channel; reported at about 6 departures per day;
• River-and-sea route (toward Maowei Sea): about 51 km, roughly 3 hours, passing Beibu Gulf University, the Maowei Sea mangroves and the oyster farms, with a distant view of the Longmen bridge before returning; reported at about 2 departures per day;
• Departure frequency may change with the season and operations — check the operator's latest announcements.

About Qingnian hub →See how the canal connects with ports and river-sea shipping →

How to get there

• Nanning section: the Xinfu waterway terminal is in Hengzhou; it is a road journey from central Nanning, and travel time varies with traffic and departure point. Per Nanning Evening News, a shuttle bus runs from Fengling bus terminal in Nanning to the Xinfu terminal (one morning and one afternoon departure daily as of September 2026), with combined bus+cruise tickets; confirm schedules with the operator before travelling;
• Qinzhou section: the Qinzhou waterway terminal is close to the city — take a high-speed train to Qinzhou East station, then local transport;
• Driving: the G75 Lanhai Expressway and other trunk roads serve both areas; allow extra time on holidays.

View the Pinglu Canal map →

Fares and how to book

Frequently asked questions →

Pinglu Canal Education Center (Qinzhou, free entry)

Practical tips

• Routes, fares and schedules may change with seasons and operations — check the operator's mini-program or official social accounts before setting out;
• Cruises run 1.5–3 hours; bring sun protection and arrive early for boarding and security checks;
• Parts of the waterway remain working infrastructure: follow crew instructions and stay out of restricted areas.

Latest tourism updates

• 2026-09-16: the Pinglu Canal opened to navigation, launching all four sightseeing cruise routes the same day (two Nanning-section loops, two Qinzhou-section routes);
• 2026-09-13: Nanning-section fares announced — CNY 128 per adult, CNY 88 per child;
• 2026-09-14: the Fengling-terminal shuttle to Xinfu and the "Nanning — Xinfu — jasmine" day tour (from CNY 168 per person) were reported in the press.

Ministry of Transport: Pinglu Canal officially opens (external link) ↗Nanguo Morning Post: Nanning-section fares announced (external link) ↗Nanning Evening News: routes, fares and shuttle details (external link) ↗