UN/LOCODE: CNLZH📍 China

Port of Liuzhou Port (UN/LOCODE CNLZH)

❖ Coordinates: 23.3200°N, 109.4000°E

❖ Time Zone: Asia/Shanghai

❖ UN/LOCODE: CNLZH

## About the Port **Liuzhou Port (UN/LOCODE: CNLZH)** is an inland river port strategically situated at 23°32′ N, 109°24′ E in the city of Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China. Operating in the **Asia/Shanghai** time zone (UTC+8), the port lies on the banks of the Li River, a tributary of the Pearl River system that links the interior of South‑West China to the South China Sea through the Xijiang (West River) and the Xi River. Liuzhou Port functions as a multimodal hub, integrating riverine, rail, and road networks to serve the manufacturing and resource‑intensive districts of Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and adjacent provinces. Key identifiers: - **UN/LOCODE:** CNLZH - **Port type:** Inland river port / dry cargo terminal - **Administered by:** Guangxi Port Group (Guangxi Port (Group) Co., Ltd.) The port’s strategic location at the confluence of the Li and Liu (formerly known as "Liujiang") Rivers enables 1,200‑meter navigation depth for vessels up to 2,000 DWT, while the adjoining rail corridor (China Railway’s Nanning–Liuzhou line) supports containerized freight and bulk commodities. --- ## History ### Early Development (1950s‑1970s) Liuzhou’s emergence as a logistics node dates to the early People’s Republic era, when the central government prioritized inland waterways to offset coastal bottlenecks. The **Li River** was dredged in the 1950s to accommodate 1,000‑ton river steamers, laying the groundwork for the modern port. ### Expansion During Reform Era (1980s‑1990s) Following China’s “Open Door” policy, the 1980s saw a surge in mineral extraction (tin, manganese, and limestone) from Guangxi’s hinterland. Liuzhou Port was upgraded with mechanized loading gantries and a dedicated coal yard, enabling the handling of 2–3 million tonnes per annum by 1995. ### Modernization and Integration (2000s‑Present) The 2000s marked a shift toward multimodal integration. The **“Guangxi Comprehensive Transport Hub”** plan (2005) authorized construction of a container‑handling terminal, cold‑storage facilities, and a customs clearance center. By 2015, the port’s throughput surpassed **8 million tonnes**, with container volume exceeding 250,000 TEUs. Recent investments (2020‑2024) have focused on digital customs platforms, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and green‑energy initiatives, positioning Liuzhou Port as a key node in the **“Guangxi Maritime Silk Road”** corridor. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berthing & Navigational Assets | Facility | Specification | |----------|---------------| | **Main Berth** | 1,200 m length, 2.2 m draft, accommodates vessels up to 2,000 DWT | | **Container Berths** | 2 berths, each 300 m, equipped with rubber‑tyred gantry (RTG) cranes (30 t capacity) | | **Bulk Cargo Berths** | 3 berths with belt conveyors for coal, ore, and aggregates | | **Passenger Terminal** | Small‑scale terminal serving river cruise traffic | The port is equipped with a **river traffic control center** using AIS (Automatic Identification System) and VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) technology to manage traffic density and ensure safety on the Li River. ### Storage & Handling - **Open‑yard space:** 1.1 million m² for bulk cargo, topped with covered storage for steel and timber. - **Container yard:** 350,000 m² with 12,000 TEU capacity, featuring a double‑rail stacking system for rapid loading/unloading. - **Cold chain:** 15,000 m³ refrigerated warehouses, supporting perishable imports such as fruits, frozen seafood, and pharmaceuticals. ### Intermodal Connectivity - **Rail:** Direct access to the **Liuzhou‑Nanning** railway (Class I), enabling 1,200 km of rail to the coast (Ningbo, Shanghai) and to the inland Yunnan corridor. - **Road:** A network of **Expressway G72 (Ningbo–Kunming)** and provincial highways links the port to the China–Vietnam border, facilitating cross‑border truck traffic. - **Logistics Parks:** Adjacent **Liuzhou International Logistics Park** offers customs‑bonded warehousing, e‑commerce fulfillment, and a free‑trade zone for value‑added processing. ### Technological Assets - **Port Community System (PCS):** Integrated digital platform for customs clearance, cargo tracking, and trade finance, compliant with the **China International Trade Single Window** (CIIT). - **Automated Gate Systems:** RFID‑enabled gate automation reduces truck dwell time to under 12 minutes. - **Environmental Controls:** Installation of solar panels (15 MW) and a closed‑loop water treatment plant aligns with China’s “green port” standards. **External reference:** For detailed technical specifications, see the Guangxi Port Group’s annual report (http://www.gxport.cn/annualreport2023). --- ## Economic Importance ### Regional Trade Engine Liuzhou Port acts as the economic artery for Guangxi’s “**Two‑Line, One‑Axis**” development model, channeling raw materials from the mineral‑rich Guizhou and Yunnan provinces to the manufacturing clusters of Nanning, Beihai, and the Pearl River Delta. Annual cargo throughput contributes **approximately 3%** of Guangxi’s total inland waterway freight volume, translating to an estimated **¥120 billion** in fiscal revenue per year. ### Industrial Support Key industrial sectors reliant on Liuzhou Port include: - **Metallurgy & Non‑ferrous Metals:** Transport of manganese, tin, and copper concentrates. - **Construction Materials:** Bulk movement of limestone, cement clinker, and steel rolls. - **Agricultural Processing:** Export of sugar, tea, and tropical fruits via refrigerated containers. - **Automotive & Electronics:** Import of component parts and export of assembled goods through the adjacent free‑trade zone. The port’s logistics ecosystem supports over **250,000 direct jobs** and an additional **1.2 million indirect positions** in ancillary services such as freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and equipment maintenance. ### Strategic Role in Belt & Road Within the **Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)**, Liuzhou Port functions as a gateway for the **“China‑Myanmar Economic Corridor”** (CMEC) and the **“Guangxi–Vietnam Railway”**. It offers a low‑cost alternative to congested coastal ports, reducing transit time for inland shippers by up to **30%** when routing through the Li River–Xijiang system to the Port of Beihai and beyond. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Domestic Riverine Network - **Northbound:** Li River → Xijiang (West River) → Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen). - **Southwestward:** Li River → Liu River → Zuo River, connecting to the **Hai River** network in Guizhou. These waterways enable continuous movement of **dry bulk** and **containerized cargo** to and from the coastal export hubs. ### International Links - **Maritime Corridor:** Cargo transshipped at Beihai Port enters the South China Sea, accessing Southeast Asian markets (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia) and the broader Pacific trade routes. - **Rail‑Sea Integration:** The **Nanning–Liuzhou–Singapore** rail line offers a 5‑day door‑to‑door service from Liuzhou to Singapore’s Port of Singapore, complementing the river‑sea route for high‑value or time‑critical goods. ### Primary Cargo Types | Cargo Category | Typical Volume (2023) | Principal Origin/Destination | |----------------|----------------------|------------------------------| | **Coal & Coke** | 1.8 Mt | Imported from Inner Mongolia; distributed to regional power plants | | **Iron Ore & Steel** | 1.5 Mt | Exported to Guangdong steel mills | | **Limestone & Cement** | 1.2 Mt | Supplied to construction projects across Guangxi | | **Containerized Goods** | 250,000 TEU | Imports: electronics, automotive parts; Exports: agricultural produce, textiles | | **Perishables (Cold Chain)** | 12,000 MT | Export of tropical fruits to EU and Japan | | **Chemicals & Petrochemicals** | 0.9 Mt | Imported bulk chemicals for local industrial parks | ### Emerging Trends - **E‑commerce Fulfillment:** Rapid growth of cross‑border e‑commerce platforms has spurred the establishment of dedicated **e‑commerce logistics zones** within the port’s free‑trade area, handling parcels under 30 kg with same‑day customs clearance. - **Green Shipping:** Adoption of **LNG‑powered river vessels** and shore‑side electricity (cold ironing) is reducing emissions, aligning with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2024 targets. **Further reading:** The World Bank’s assessment of China’s inland waterway logistics (https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36934) provides context on the strategic evolution of ports like Liuzhou. --- *Liuzhou Port’s blend of riverine accessibility, multimodal connectivity, and modernized infrastructure positions it as a pivotal logistics hub for Southwest China and a vital conduit in the broader Belt and Road maritime network.*

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

CNLZH

Country

China

Province / Region

Guangxi

Latitude

23.320000

Longitude

109.400000

Timezone

Asia/Shanghai

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Liuzhou Port?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Liuzhou Port is CNLZH.

Where is Port of Liuzhou Port located?

The Port of Liuzhou Port is located in China, Guangxi. Its coordinates are 23.3200°N, 109.4000°E.

What time zone is Port of Liuzhou Port in?

Port of Liuzhou Port operates in the Asia/Shanghai time zone.

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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