As the year draws to a close, reflecting on the past twelve months reveals that China's inland waterway transport industry, propelled by innovation and driven by integration, has composed a magnificent new chapter of the era through a trio of themes: transportation-tourism integration, the unleashing of economic momentum, and the construction of a prosperous livelihood for the people.
With its unique advantages of large transport capacity, low cost, and minimal energy consumption, inland waterway transport has consistently served as a foundational and strategic industry underpinning national economic development. From January to November this year, Huanghua Port achieved a cargo throughput of 336 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 3.33%, reaching a record high. Behind these figures lies a profound transformation in port functionality. Major projects, including the Phase V project of the Huanghua Port Coal Port Area and the 300,000-ton crude oil terminal, are progressing at full speed, signaling the port's evolution from a single-purpose energy port towards a comprehensive major port. The explosive growth in container business, in particular, has attracted numerous manufacturing enterprises from the hinterland to switch from bulk cargo to containers, significantly reducing logistics costs and enhancing the market competitiveness of "Made in Hebei." The efficient connection between the port and the hinterland railway and road networks is fostering the formation of port-proximate industrial clusters, initiating a virtuous cycle where the port promotes industry, and industry revitalizes the city.
The dense water network of the Pearl River Delta acts as the lifeblood supporting the operation of a world-class city cluster. In the first half of 2025, the cargo throughput of ports in the four provinces (autonomous regions) of the Pearl River system exceeded 1 billion tons, with waterway freight volume reaching 734 million tons, resembling a perpetually busy "aquatic expressway." The Changzhou Hydro-junction ship lock, hailed as the "Three Gorges of the Pearl River," saw its lock passage freight volume approach 100 million tons, a level of activity that is a marvel in the history of world inland waterway transport. In the Qiongzhou Strait, roll-on/roll-off passenger transport functions like a sturdy maritime bridge, closely linking the Hainan Free Trade Port with the pulse of development; the convenient flow of people and goods provides fundamental support for the coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port. Vehicle and passenger traffic volumes across the Qiongzhou Strait have increased significantly and are projected to rise from 920,000 vehicle trips and 2.89 million passenger trips at the beginning of the "14th Five-Year Plan" period to 4.71 million vehicle trips and 13.62 million passenger trips by the end of the period, representing increases of 412% and 371%, respectively.
The Fujian Min River, once plagued by prolonged delays at hydro-junctions, has seen a remarkable turnaround following waterway regulation, the construction of new ship locks, and facility upgrades. In 2022, normal navigation for 500-ton vessels was restored on the main stream of the Min River. By 2025, the navigation standard is set to be upgraded from 500-ton to 1000-ton class. Nanping Port, developed from scratch, is expected to handle approximately 380,000 tons of cargo throughput in 2025, including about 20,000 TEUs of containers, representing year-on-year growth of about 38% and 44%, respectively. This progression from "congestion" to "smooth flow" and then to "upgrading" has not only opened a low-cost logistics channel directly to the coast for the mountainous regions of northwest Fujian but has also paved an "aquatic expressway" for coordinated mountain-sea development and the rise of industrial belts along the river. In Jiangxi, with the completion of the high-grade航道达标工程 for the Gan River and the Xin River, the province's high-grade waterway mileage has historically surpassed 1,000 kilometers, forming a "two horizontal, one vertical" main骨架 of inland waterways, vigorously promoting the construction of Jiangxi's Inland Open Economy Pilot Zone. Guided by the concept of high-quality development, major water systems across the country are now generating even more powerful economic momentum.
Across the vast landscape, particularly in mountainous areas, reservoir areas, and remote islands, ferry crossings and boats constitute an indispensable network for people's livelihoods, carrying the public's aspirations for a safe, convenient, and better life. "Fujian Fu Du" has become a deeply resonant people's livelihood brand within Fujian Province, with its core principles being "ensuring safety for the people, providing convenience for the people, and promoting prosperity for the people." The "Fu Du" initiative benefits the people by solving the "last kilometer" of travel. Over half of the ferry crossings in Fujian Province have undergone renovation and upgrading. The formerly simple earthen slope landings have been replaced by new "Fu Du" facilities integrating cultural promotion, leisure, sightseeing, and other functions; many are also equipped with public toilets and weather information displays. Particularly heartwarming is the retention of 59 "free charity ferry" routes, benefiting hundreds of thousands of residents along rivers and in reservoir areas, effectively lightening the burden on the populace. In Shaowu, Nanping, the newly built "Fu Du" facilities not only solve the transportation difficulties for villagers crossing the river for farming but also connect surrounding cultural and tourism attractions, drawing visitors and consequently boosting local农家乐 businesses. The ferry crossings have transformed from mere river-crossing tools into "blessed lands" that drive rural development.
In Hubei, the "Thousand-Lake Province," the construction of "Beautiful Countryside Ferry Crossings" resonates with the Rural Revitalization Strategy. An accumulated investment of nearly 200 million yuan has acted like a "magic touch," transforming a number of old ferry crossings into网红景点. In Zigui County, Yichang, the renovated Qu Yuan's Hometown ferry integrates seamlessly with the surrounding navel orange orchards and homestay clusters, serving both as a landing for local residents and a gateway for tourists to experience the Three Gorges culture and purchase local agricultural products. At Xiandao Lake in Yangxin County, Huangshi, eco-friendly floating docks have replaced fixed ones, rising and falling with the water level, protecting the lakeshore ecology while ensuring safe berthing at all times. Many ferry crossings also incorporate functions like parcel collection and dispatch and e-commerce services, becoming nodes in the rural logistics network. For students in some water-rich areas of provinces like Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, ferry boats are their "school buses." Ensuring the safety of this "waterborne path to knowledge" is a matter of deep societal concern. In Lubuge Buyi and Miao Autonomous Township, Luoping County, Yunnan, at the start of each school semester, local maritime, education, and public security departments jointly conduct the "First Lesson on Water Safety." Law enforcement officers board the student ferries, using vivid examples to explain how to wear life jackets and self-rescue techniques in case of falling overboard. Simultaneously, "mobile police stations" follow key ferry routes, maintaining order and handling emergencies in real-time. This thirteen-year commitment and meticulous care have resulted in a perfect safety record of "zero accidents" for student ferry transport across the county. The value of inland waterway development ultimately rests in its service to the people. The ferry boats, waiting punctually at the docks rain or shine, warm the hearts of the people.
As the boundary between transportation and tourism blurs on the shimmering waves, inland waterway transport has evolved into an immersive cultural interpretation and a flowing feast of scenery. Along the Cangzhou section in Hebei, the former canal transport route has been magnificently transformed into a "flowing cultural corridor." The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, this great project embodying millennia of Chinese civilization wisdom, is being endowed with new contemporary significance. A carefully crafted cultural tourism navigation project, developed in collaboration with cultural and tourism departments, skillfully strings together canal parks, the Hundred Lions Garden, the Nanchuanlou Cultural Block, and other pearl-like attractions into a cohesive chain. By day, tourists glide slowly on replica antique painted boats, with weeping willows on the banks and ancient lock ruins recounting past vicissitudes; by night, a meticulously designed lighting system illuminates the river course, bridges, and replica ancient buildings, outlining a picture of "lantern shadows shimmering on the waves, a galaxy fallen into the canal." This model, where "the waterway is the scenic area, and the voyage is the experience," has revitalized dormant cultural heritage.
Moving to the regions south of the Yangtze River, the integration of inland waterway transport and tourism is further enriched by a碰撞 of technology and poetry. Zhejiang Province's全力打造的 "Sailing in Zhejiang" brand acts like a key, unlocking various ways to deeply experience the Jiangnan watertowns. On the Hangzhou to Huzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, cruise ships are not just transport but moving "intangible cultural heritage exhibition halls," where passengers can listen to Pingtan storytelling and observe silk reeling techniques along the way. The night cruise route along the north bank of the Qiantang River boldly incorporates drone fleet performances, which create patterns like lotuses and tidal bores in the night sky, reflecting brilliantly on the river surface; the application of Augmented Reality technology allows tourists to see virtual finless porpoises leaping from the water and ancient poems appearing among the waves through their phone screens. At the Sanjiangkou in Ningbo, the "Maritime Silk Road Legend" route combines port industrial scenery with stories of maritime silk road culture. This refined development approach, characterized by "one city, one product; one route, one theme," meets the deeper needs of tourists evolving from "viewing scenery" to "savouring culture."
Venturing deeper into the Golden Waterway of the Yangtze River, one can feel its majestic momentum and cultural depth. The nighttime water tourism projects on the Hubei section of the Yangtze focus on creating unique "one ship, one IP" experiences. Some cruise ships are themed around Chu Culture, with cabins resembling chambers of bianzhong bells; others emphasize modern art, becoming floating galleries on the river; yet others specialize in parent-child science education, allowing children to learn about the Yangtze's ecology during the voyage. This "culture-first, experience-permeated" model turns the waterway into a flowing cultural classroom. Even in the vast north, water tourism exudes its own unique charm. In summer along the Harbin section of the Songhua River, cruise ships pass under the neon-lit Binzhou Railway Bridge, gazing afar at the illuminated Flood Control Monument, composing a romantic movement of the "Ice City Summer Capital." In Heihe, Heilongjiang, Sino-Russian border tours allow tourists to appreciate exotic风情 during the cruise. Behind the laughter and joy lies solid safety assurance. To steadfastly guard the safety of waterborne transportation within its jurisdiction, the Heilongjiang Maritime Safety Administration has strengthened safety supervision, focused on special rectification of prominent issues, and worked to prevent and mitigate major safety risks. Guided by the Three-Year Action Plan for Tackling Root Causes in Work Safety, it has meticulously implemented thirty stringent measures for transportation safety production, established mechanisms for dedicated personnel, teams, and responsibilities for supervision, and steadily advanced all aspects of safety oversight.
Looking ahead, inland waterway transport will continue to serve as the "hard support" for high-quality development, the "scenic line" of Beautiful China, and the "bridge connecting hearts" for common prosperity, sailing towards a broader and deeper blue future.
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