Guilin takes over as host of 2026 World Canals Conference

At 12:19 pm local time on Sept 25, 2025 (00:19 am Beijing time, Sept 26), Guilin secured the hosting rights for the 2026 World Canals Conference at the closing ceremony of the 2025 edition in Buffalo, New York, United States, marking the start of "Guilin Time" for the global event.

The Lingqu Canal, a pearl of ancient world water conservancy structures, ripples with clear waves. [Photo/Guangxi Daily]

The 2025 World Canals Conference ran from Sept 22 to 25 local time. It brought together canal experts, city representatives and enthusiasts worldwide, who held in-depth discussions on key topics like canal cultural heritage protection, ecological governance and sustainable development.

During the conference, Guilin's delegation promoted the city through on-site exhibitions and technical reports, highlighting the rich heritage and unique charm of the Lingqu Canal, a millennium-old waterway.

At the closing ceremony, two promotional videos – Guilin: Best Under Heaven and Millennium Canal, New Era Voyage – were screened to extend a "Guilin invitation" to the world.

Guilin is globally renowned for its karst landscapes and the scenic Lijiang River, hailed as "the most beautiful landscape under heaven". Its long history and culture are closely tied to local water systems, with the Lingqu Canal standing as a precious cultural treasure.

The 2026 conference will focus on two core themes: the "ancient wisdom of the Lingqu Canal" and the “modern technology of the Pinglu Canal”.

Scheduled for Sept 7-11, 2026, the conference is already in preparation. Guilin has set up a special work team, launched an official Chinese-English website, and is optimizing core inspection routes covering the Lingqu Canal, Pinglu Canal and Lijiang River, while maintaining close cooperation with the International Waterway Institute.