Guoyuan Port leads in green development

A bird's-eye view of Guoyuan Port in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo/WeChat account of Liangjiang New Area]

Guoyuan Port in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, has evolved from a modest general cargo dock into the largest multimodal transport hub in China's inland waterway network. This transformation highlights Chongqing's commitment to ecological conservation and green development over the past eight years.

Strategically positioned as a "golden junction" of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Guoyuan Port boasts optimal conditions for deep-water dock locations capable of handling vessels above 5,000 metric tons, earning its reputation as a global transit hub.

European goods such as automobiles and powdered milk arrive via the China-Europe Railway Express and are distributed nationwide along the Yangtze River. Similarly, products from Southeast Asia, including clothing, footwear, pulp, and minerals, are transported through the Western Land-Sea Corridor to Chongqing, then transshipped from Guoyuan Port to regions upstream and downstream along the Yangtze River.

This bustling scene can be largely attributed to the port's continuous efforts to implement a water-rail-road multimodal transport system and improve its supporting facilities. It has achieved several key milestones, including the maiden journey of the China-Europe Railway Express in December 2017 and the inauguration of the Land-Sea New Channel train service in March 2019. The port also launched the "Shanghai-Chongqing Direct Express" in May 2019, improving the overall efficiency of Shanghai-Chongqing logistics by over 40 percent.

The port has implemented a 13-kilometer-long enclosed conveyor belt system for bulk cargo transportation, addressing pollution concerns associated with transporting iron, coal, and petroleum coke.

This initiative is part of Guoyuan Port's broader journey towards becoming an intelligent and eco-friendly port. Over 200 million yuan ($27.52 million) has been invested in environmental facilities and equipment, including smart shore power systems that reduce noise and emissions and ensure zero pollution and zero emissions from on-board wastewater and waste.