YANGTZE

In 2005, it carried 795m tonnes of cargo, which makes it one of the most important inland waterway complexes in the world. In contrast, China’s major north-south rail trunk route handled nine times less than that.

According to Tang Guanjun, director of the Yangtze River Navigation Affairs Administration, US$212m has already been spent clearance of the waterway over the last five years, which will enable faster navigation speeds to eventually be implemented.