The Madao hub project of the Pinglu Canal in Guangxi adheres to the green development concept, making comprehensive use of the excavated earth and stones, especially deeply integrating them with agricultural production, and exploring a new path for canal construction that prioritizes ecological conservation.

Vegetable planting demonstration base

The Pinglu Canal is 134.2 kilometers long, and the total amount of earth and rock to be excavated along the entire line is expected to reach 339 million cubic meters, approximately three times that of the Three Gorges Dam. Among them, the total excavation volume at the hub is 41.38 million cubic meters. The traditional landfill method not only occupies a large amount of land but also causes resource waste.

The project team classified the different types of earth and rock: the surface humus soil was used for soil improvement, the moderately weathered mudstone was crushed to make roadbed fillers, and the strongly weathered rock layers were transformed into ecological slope protection materials. Among them, farm land reclamation accounted for the largest proportion. This measure not only added 337 mu of new farmland but also used the earth and rock to fill the mountain valleys and built a nearly 670-mu industrial park.

In February 2024, the vegetables in the base began to enter the harvest period, with an average yield of 3,000 kilograms per mu. Nowadays, along the Pinglu Canal, the once barren land is gradually transforming into industrial parks, smart farmlands, and ecological parks.

The project leader said, "What we are building is not just a canal, but a green corridor that runs through the entire life cycle."