Guilin, Guangxi, China
inlandwaterwaysinternational.org/world-canals-conference
Guilin and Xing’an (a county under Guilin’s jurisdiction) in Guangxi Autonomous Region, China, will host the WCC on 7-11 September 2026. Here lies one of the oldest Chinese canals connecting the Yangtze and Pearl River basins: the Lingqu Canal. Xing’an is where water is diverted into the canal from the northward-flowing Xiang River. It is also home to the Lingqu Canal Museum. The conference will offer unique opportunities to cruise on the Lijiang River, south from Guilin, where the scenery is said to be ‘best under heaven.’ Canal and waterfront restoration in constrained urban environments will be a key theme.