Can Hong Kong protect its eco-sensitive sites amid ‘golden week’ overtourism fears?

On September 16, the Pinglu Canal in China officially opened, marking a significant milestone in modern Chinese history. This 134.2km waterway, stretching from the Xijin reservoir in Hengzhou to the Gulf of Tonkin, serves as a vital link between China's inland economies and the sea, as well as Southeast Asia. Designed for vessels up to 5,000 tonnes, the canal offers a shorter, more cost-effective route for goods to global markets.

Strategically, the Pinglu Canal is part of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a trade artery first conceptualized under the China-Singapore Connectivity Initiative in 2015. This initiative, endorsed by President Xi Jinping and Singapore's then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, promotes stronger exchanges between Chinese provinces and their economically complementary partners.

Southwestern China, known for its production of new energy vehicles, auto parts, and materials for renewable energy, benefits greatly from the canal's faster alternative to traditional export routes. The canal's economic potential extends beyond cost savings, fostering the growth of industrial clusters and strengthening the exchange of goods, minerals, agricultural products, and energy-related materials between southwestern China and Southeast Asia.

The canal also connects with key networks like the China-Europe Railway Express, the China-Laos Railway, and other transport and logistics systems. This enhanced connectivity offers manufacturers greater efficiency and lower costs, while creating employment opportunities during construction and in port operations, warehousing, shipping, and ancillary services.

China's trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) reached US$1 trillion in 2025, growing by 24.7% year-on-year to US$744.41 billion in the first seven months of 2026. China has maintained Asean's largest trading partner status for 17 consecutive years, while Asean has been China's largest trading partner for six years. The Pinglu Canal responds to this economic reality, providing a crucial direct gateway for China's landlocked southwest to maritime routes, opening new opportunities for both regions.

Hong Kong, with its strengths in project finance, infrastructure bond issuance, green financing, marine insurance, reinsurance, legal and arbitration services, and logistics consulting, can contribute significantly to the canal's development and the deepening of China-Asean ties. The First Protocol to Amend the Investment Agreement between Hong Kong and Asean, signed recently, ensures non-discriminatory treatment for Hong Kong firms across the 11 Asean member states, further strengthening Hong Kong's role as a global hub, superconnector, and value-added partner for both China and Asean.