37th World Canal Conference to be held in Guilin, Guangxi, from October 12 to 15
In short
The 37th World Canal Conference will take place in Guilin, Guangxi, from October 12 to 15, 2026, according to a press conference held on October 9 by the Guangxi regional government's information office. The event is co-hosted by Guilin's municipal Party committee and government, the Guangxi Department of Transport and Inland Waterways International (IWI), and includes four parallel expert seminars and field visits to the Pinglu Canal, the Lingqu Canal and the Li River.
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The 37th World Canal Conference will be held in Guilin, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from October 12 to 15, 2026, according to reports published on October 9 by CLS, Yicai and China News Service. The information was released at a press conference on the 2026 World Canal Conference held by the information office of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region government. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The conference is co-hosted by the Guilin Municipal Party Committee and city government together with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Department of Transport and Inland Waterways International (IWI). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The programme includes opening and closing ceremonies, plenary sessions and four parallel expert seminars. During the event, three field study routes will be run to the Pinglu Canal, the Lingqu Canal and the Li River, alongside themed exhibition activities. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the reports, the conference will showcase Guangxi's ancient canal civilisation and its achievements in contemporary water transport construction, and will support Guilin's development as a world-class tourist city. The reports said it has practical significance for exploring and publicising the historical and contemporary value of the Lingqu Canal, for serving the construction of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor and for raising the level of Guangxi's opening up to the outside world. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
China News Service added that the World Canal Conference is a major international authoritative industry meeting held each year on a rotating basis among Europe, Asia and the Americas. It said 36 editions have been held so far and that this will be the third time the conference has come to China. [ 3 ]
CLS and Yicai both credited their reports to CCTV News. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
According to the reports, the conference is meant to showcase Guangxi's ancient canal heritage and modern water transport construction, and to support Guilin's development as a world-class tourist city. The reports also link it to the New Western Land-Sea Corridor and to raising Guangxi's level of opening up. China News Service said it will be the third time the conference has been held in China.
Key facts
- The 37th World Canal Conference will be held in Guilin from October 12 to 15, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The dates were announced at a press conference on the 2026 World Canal Conference held by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region government information office on October 9. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Co-hosts are the Guilin Municipal Party Committee and city government, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Department of Transport and Inland Waterways International (IWI). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The programme includes opening and closing ceremonies, plenary sessions and four parallel expert seminars. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Three field study routes will cover the Pinglu Canal, the Lingqu Canal and the Li River, alongside themed exhibition activities. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The conference rotates each year among Europe, Asia and the Americas; 36 editions have been held so far. [ 3 ]
- This will be the third time the World Canal Conference has come to China. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The 37th World Canal Conference will be held in Guilin from October 12 to 15, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The conference is co-hosted by Guilin's municipal Party committee and government, the Guangxi Department of Transport and Inland Waterways International (IWI). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The programme includes four parallel expert seminars and field study routes to the Pinglu Canal, the Lingqu Canal and the Li River. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- This will be the third time the World Canal Conference has been held in China. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- Topics, speakers and participating delegations of the seminars The documents do not name the seminar topics, speakers or the number and origin of participants.
- Time of the October 9 press conference The documents give the date of the press conference but not the time it was held.