Cheng Yaofei, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd.——
“On the Pinglu Canal, you must achieve 100 points to pass the test.”
Our reporter Zhu Jiaqi
On the second day after the Pinglu Canal was opened to navigation, Cheng Yaofei, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd., was busy with ship lock scheduling, operation and cargo source organization after the opening of navigation, and confirmed the closed-loop operation of equipment and facilities one by one.
In 2003, the graduation certificate from Chongqing Jiaotong University's civil engineering major still smelled of ink, and he didn't want a high-paying job in a developed area. Cheng Yaofei returned to Guangxi with his bags on his back.
The transportation infrastructure in his hometown is weak, and he wants to come back and do his part for his hometown. Over the past 20 years, he has handled nearly 20 projects of various sizes in Guangxi, from design to construction management, one after another.
He often introduces himself like this: "My surname is Cheng, from Engineering."
On July 13, 2022, with a transfer order, he came to Pinglu Canal Group from Guangxi Communications Investment Group. Before the office could make arrangements, he rushed to Qinzhou the next day.
"Only when we arrived did we realize that we had 'nothing.'" Cheng Yaofei was deeply impressed. There were no people, no equipment, and no place, but he had to complete all the approvals on design, land use, forest use, and sea use in more than 40 days, and achieved substantial start of construction and continuous construction on August 28 in accordance with laws and regulations.
In order to start construction on time, all work such as project feasibility review, land use approval, and bidding documents are measured in hours. It is normal to get off work after 12 o'clock every night. The entire team moved their workstations to the construction site, gathering the strength of the owner, design, supervision, and construction parties to discover and solve problems on the spot.
It took 15 days to complete the construction of the project department's residence, 30 days to complete the land acquisition and house relocation of the first phase of the project, and 40 days to start the project construction... Cheng Yaofei led the team to create "Pinglu Speed".
"Letting you do difficult things is an affirmation of you." As the commander of the Pinglu Canal Project Construction Headquarters, the project site has been Cheng Yaofei's main work position in the past four years.
Youth Hub is the control project closest to the estuary of the canal. As seawater flows upward, concrete components are susceptible to chlorine salt corrosion, which is directly related to how many years the hub can be used. In order to overcome this problem, Cheng Yaofei led a youth commando team to formulate more than 10 "recipes" for concrete in 5 months, conducted nearly 200 sets of experiments, and tested more than 600 test blocks. "Experiments are just like this. They constantly fail, summarize, and improve. No matter how tired or hard they are, they must persevere." Cheng Yaofei said.
The entire canal was a tough battle, but Cheng Yaofei led a professional and technical team to overcome the tough issues one by one. The maximum water level difference between the upstream and downstream of Madao Junction is 29.6 meters, and the water saving rate exceeds 60%; the herringbone gate of Qishi Junction is 36.4 meters high and weighs 978 tons. The steel water-stop gap does not exceed 0.1 mm left and right, and does not exceed 0.05 mm up and down. The total earth and stone excavation volume along the entire line is 315 million cubic meters, and there are no structural cracks in the main body of the ship lock...
"It turns out that if you score 60 points in a project, you will be considered qualified, and if you score 80 points, you will be praised. In the Pinglu Canal, you must score 100 points to pass." After four years of construction, he never relaxed and kept improving. Cheng Yaofei cared about the project with the same care as carving a work of art.
There are only working days, no holidays. During holidays, his wife and children can only accompany him at the construction site. The son Cheng Zhibo did not understand his father at first and even complained.
Until my father’s name appeared on the Chinese language test paper at the end of last semester. That night, on the phone, my son could not hide his excitement and pride. Cheng Yaofei on the other end of the phone had red eyes.
In the Pinglu Canal, this youth commando team, led by Cheng Yaofei, has 50 people. It is composed of front-line young backbones from various positions, with an average age of 32 years old. The water-saving ship lock technology they developed saves more than 1 billion cubic meters of water annually, and the comprehensive utilization rate of earth and stone in the project reaches 98%. At the same time, 13,900 acres of cultivated land were added, achieving a win-win situation between project construction and ecological protection. In 2025, the Pinglu Canal Youth Commando was awarded the Chinese Youth May Fourth Medal Collective.
The young man who carried his luggage back to Guangxi looked at the mountains and rivers of his hometown again. "It's difficult, but it will happen. We have been looking forward to this day for so long." Looking at the joyful and festive scenes on both sides of the canal, Cheng Yaofei pressed the shutter to take a photo.
Huang Haibo, Project Manager of Pinglu Canal Horse Road Hub of CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company——
"The three best in the world are our 'medals'"
Reporter Han Xin
"Du-du--"
At 10:20 a.m. on September 16, the Pinglu Canal was officially opened to navigation at the Madao Junction, with the siren blasting and the maiden ship passing through the lock.
Stopping at the navigation ceremony, Huang Haibo, project manager of the Pinglu Canal Horse Road Hub of CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., wrote in the circle of friends: "Times cast the mission, and the mountains and rivers bear witness to the glory!" In the accompanying picture, attendance certificates for the commencement of construction and navigation activities are arranged on both sides, and a National Model Worker Medal is placed in the center, shining with golden light.
Four years ago, the canal's groundbreaking ceremony was held here. At that time, a heavy project list was placed in front of Huang Haibo: the water level drop of the entire Pinglu Canal is 65 meters, and the burden here is nearly 30 meters; it is located at the watershed of Shiwan Mountain, and the amount of earth and stone excavation exceeds 40 million cubic meters.
Each hard number was refined into two lines of poetry by Huang Haibo: "Split mountains and open rivers to connect the two major river basins, realizing 'one river of spring water flows southward'; build dams and gates to adjust the water level difference, making it easy for a light boat to cross thousands of mountains."
To open a river, you must first split the mountain.
The Madao hub has the highest channel slope under construction in China, with a vertical height of 188 meters. Huang Haibo clearly remembers that when there were only 40 days left before the 2023 rainy season, the slope still had a height of 100 meters without construction.
"According to traditional methods, it would take a whole year to complete these tasks." A bold idea quickly took shape in his mind: "Use the method of digging tunnels to dig the slope!"
By applying tunnel construction equipment to the high slope, one level of excavation, one level of protection, and one level of greening, exchanging space for time, the team completed the high slope construction in only 30 days according to quality and quantity.
For navigation, a lock must be built.
In the winter of 2024, Huang Haibo led the project team to create a construction record: 16,409 cubic meters of large-volume pre-cooled concrete was poured in a single day, setting a new world record for similar single projects.
"That night, more than 2,000 people and more than 200 pieces of equipment were working in the huge foundation pit more than 60 meters deep. The construction site was brightly lit all night." Huang Haibo recalled that the only thought in his mind at that time was that it could not be interrupted, could not be stopped, and could not make any mistakes. In the end, he successfully passed the test and set a new record.
"Once you enter the canal gate, you will end the world of mortals." This work lasted more than 1,400 days and nights. In the past four years, Huang Haibo would climb up to check in at every project node. Hundreds of photos on my mobile phone record the changes in the mountains and rivers——
In 2023, a foundation pit more than 60 meters deep was opened among the vast mountains;
In the second year, hundreds of pieces of equipment and thousands of people worked non-stop in the giant foundation pit;
Another year later, thousands of pillars supported a concrete "forest", and the ship lock stood firmly in the middle of the canyon;
In 2026, the scene has gradually changed from messy to tidy. The hub is open to water, and ships can sail on the water. 1,000-ton, 3,000-ton, and 5,000-ton ships pass through one after another...
The opening ceremony of just half an hour brought to a successful end the four-year construction of Huang Haibo: the world's fastest valve opening and closing speed ship lock, the world's highest water-saving ship lock, and the world's largest inland water-saving ship lock. "Being the three best in the world is our 'medal'!"
At the end of the ceremony, Huang Haibo once again climbed up the 100-meter slope and overlooked the Pinglu Canal passing through the mountain.
Underfoot, the water is rolling and the channel is winding; in the distance, the dam lies quietly and the locks stand; on both sides, the slopes are towering and green...
Once upon a time, hundreds of thousands of mountains stretched majestically across the Xijiang River and the Qinjiang River. Nowadays, the 6.5-kilometer-long watershed in Lingshan is split, and a river of clear water flows southward, passing through Ma Dao Junction, passing Qishi Junction, arriving at Qingnian Junction, and then rushing into the sea from Beibu Gulf.
“What do you want to do most after the canal is opened to navigation?”
"Go home and see your wife and children." Huang Haibo smiled shyly. He was stationed at the construction site for four consecutive Spring Festivals, and his wife and children accompanied him at the construction site to welcome the New Year every year. "When the time comes, I will go to the mountains and seas with you." This promise he once left to gather young children and leave many wives and children was finally fulfilled.
(Zhou Xuan participated in the interview and writing)
He Junhui, Director of the Project Management Department of Pinglu Canal Group——
“The more you keep an eye on it, the more secure the project will be.”
Reporter Zhang Yunhe
Rivers and seas are connected. Today, the Pinglu Canal is like a ribbon, running through the Xijiang River and reaching the Beibu Gulf. 5,000-ton cargo ships steadily shuttle through the waterway. This world-class "water highway" is officially open to navigation. Standing on the embankment, looking at the brand new Baili Waterway in front of him, He Junhui, director of the Pinglu Canal Group Engineering Management Department, had mixed feelings in his heart. In July 2022, as one of the first pioneers of the group, he joined the Century Canal project across borders.
Before that, He Junhui had been engaged in highway construction for a long time. He had been dealing with roadbed and pavement construction all year round and was an expert in highway engineering. He often mocks himself as a "landlubber breaking into the canal".
When the project was first started, everything started from scratch. The group lacks manpower, technology, and experience, and there are no mature cases for reference. What’s even more difficult is that highway and water transportation construction are completely different. The complex and changeable hydrogeological conditions and strict ecological protection standards make the project progress full of obstacles. During that time, the huge work pressure kept He Junhui awake at night.
"I'm scared, but I can't stop working." He Junhui did not back down and took the initiative to stay on the front line and face the difficulties head-on. He insisted on spending time at the construction site, surveying river sections during the day, and reading and studying waterway engineering materials at night. He made up for his professional shortcomings little by little, and quickly completed the transformation from a highway construction expert to a key player in water transportation.
The five major sections of the Pinglu Canal have different terrains and complex working conditions. 26 major tributaries merge into it, resulting in rapid water flow and sedimentation. Among them, the Qinzhou City section is the most difficult and strictest key node on the entire line. More than 6,600 households live along the line. Historic sites such as Liu Yongfu’s former residence, Feng Zicai’s former residence, and Qinjiang Ancient Dragon Kiln stand near the water. The rare mangrove ecological belt is close to the waterway, and the construction error tolerance rate is almost zero.
Conventional underwater reef blasting has large vibrations and strong disturbances. It can easily destroy residential buildings, damage cultural relics, disturb the ecology, and cannot be used at all. In order to solve the problem, He Junhui led the team to repeatedly deduce plans, compare parameters, and iterate processes, and finally innovatively developed a precise underwater blasting technology known as the "Water Splash Disappearance Technique." The safe vibration speed for ordinary building blasting is 2 centimeters per second. He led the team to strictly control the construction threshold to 0.2 centimeters per second, tightening the standard 10 times. Subtle water splashes are fleeting, and blasting is precise and controllable. It not only effectively clears underwater reef obstacles, but also firmly maintains the safety of residential buildings, intact cultural relics, and ecological stability, achieving a balance between engineering construction, cultural heritage protection, and ecological protection.
People who are familiar with He Junhui call him "one-minded". He personally went to the site to monitor and control all key and high-risk processes such as blasting and deep foundation pit excavation. The mobile phone is filled with channel images and monitoring data, and each set of data is checked repeatedly. "The drawings and data will eventually be implemented on site. If you pay more attention, the project will be more secure and the people will feel more at ease." He said firmly.
In addition to being rigorous, we are also good at innovation. In response to the problem of sedimentation in tributaries, he led the team to develop three types of sand interception and anti-siltation devices, with a sediment interception rate of 90%, effectively solving the pain points of channel accumulation and blockage. At the same time, we actively promote digital methods such as drone aerial surveys and unmanned ship underwater surveys to empower on-site management and control with smart construction, making project construction more precise, more efficient, and safer.
After several years of fierce fighting, the road was finally completed, and now the entire Pinglu Canal is open to navigation and connects the rivers and seas smoothly. "It is a great honor for my career to be able to participate in this century-old project." He Junhui said frankly that he will continue to stick to his post, guard this river-sea artery, help the canal continue to run smoothly, and continue to benefit the local area and the people.
Cai Zhubing, Pinglu Canal Bridge Design Engineer of Guangxi Transportation Design Group——
"Once the bridge is repaired, people can walk smoothly."
Our reporter Li Weijun
Standing on the newly built Beibu Gulf Bridge, Cai Zhubing, a design engineer of Guangxi Transportation Design Group Co., Ltd., is very proud of the constant flow of vehicles on the bridge deck and the north-south flow of freighters under the bridge. "When the bridge is repaired, people can walk smoothly."
Starting in 2022, Cai Zhubing will participate in the two-stage survey and design of the Pinglu Canal; starting in April 2023, he will be stationed in Qinzhou, responsible for the follow-up service work of the bridges in the Qinzhou City section of the Pinglu Canal.
In order to accommodate the navigation of 5,000-ton ships, a total of six urban bridges in Qinzhou urban area need to be demolished and rebuilt, which will be completed in about three years. For bridge design engineers, this is a "big test" racing against time.
"How to demolish the old bridge and build the Baotong Bridge so that people's daily travel will not be greatly affected; what plan to use to build the new bridge so that it can be fully opened to traffic before the canal is opened to navigation are all topics that need to be completed at the same time." Cai Zhubing said.
Cai Zhubing's first important task after taking over was to design and build a temporary Baotong Bridge before the old bridge was demolished.
It was necessary to control the budget, ensure traffic quality, and consider the recycling of components after construction. Each design plan was changed into a "big painted face" in the hands of Cai Zhubing and his colleagues.
The Baotong Bridge plan has been finalized, but the road network connection of Baotong Road has become a problem in some places.
"After the Baotong Bridge of Qinjiang Bridge is completed, it will face the problem of 'there is a bridge but no road'. If it is connected to the road network according to the original route, the narrowest point is only 5 meters, which is very inconvenient for the masses." Cai Zhubing explained that the land in the old city is tight, pipeline relocation and road widening will affect the whole body.
Cai Zhubing and his team went to the site to continuously adjust the plan and optimize the traffic organization based on the opinions of the traffic police, planning and other departments. "Designers have to not only manage the drawings, but also go to the site, so that the completed project can truly meet the actual needs." Cai Zhubing said.
During the construction of the new bridge, what impressed Cai Zhubing most deeply was the Shajing Qinjiang Bridge, which is now the Beibu Gulf Bridge.
This cable-stayed bridge is located near a mangrove reserve. For ecological protection, the location of Baotong Bridge was adjusted from the upstream to the downstream of the old bridge. After the construction started, problems such as construction coordination and quality control came one after another, and the construction period was approaching.
If the conventional construction process is followed, the main tower must be completed first, and then the girder construction will be carried out. It is expected to be completed and opened to traffic in August this year. The Baotong Bridge will be dismantled and the channel dredged subsequently, exceeding the scheduled navigation time of the Pinglu Canal.
"We must find a way to move forward!"
After staying up all night and revising the plan, under the guidance of bridge experts, Cai Zhubing and his team members decided to use the "tower-beam synchronization" construction technology after analysis and calculation: the construction of the main tower carrying the cables and the construction of the bridge girder were constructed simultaneously.
"The two major construction sites with a height difference of 100 meters are operating simultaneously, and multiple processes are interleaved, making the construction very difficult." Cai Zhubing told reporters that they asked experts to study and review the plan for multiple rounds, and refined the on-site operation plan to every small project and every worker to ensure nothing went wrong. In the end, the opening time was advanced to March this year.
"The Pinglu Canal Project is also known as the 'Hundred Bridges Project'. I am extremely honored to be able to participate in this great project right at home." Recently, Cai Zhubing often takes his wife and parents to visit the bridges he participated in the construction of. As night falls, the bridge landscape lights are turned on. Looking at the bridge in front of them, the whole family's faces are filled with pride.
There are 104 bridges, including Baotong Bridge, municipal bridges, expressway bridges, railway bridges, and animal passage bridges and other environmental protection facilities.
"What's more important than numbers is that once the bridge is repaired, people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will be able to walk comfortably, and the development of their hometown will be better." This is Cai Zhubing's original intention, and it is also the belief that countless Pinglu Canal bridge builders adhere to day after day.
