Uni-Link arranges the inland leg of a container shipment: pickup at the factory, delivery to Yantian, Shekou, Nansha or Huangpu, and, for cargo moving through the southwest, transport to Qinzhou on the Beibu Gulf rail–sea corridor. Qinzhou routing, including the Pinglu Canal, is quoted case by case after checking rail and barge availability, because the canal opened to navigation in September 2026 and is still in trial operation.
Trucking to the four ports we run
| Terminal | Typical equipment | What decides the plan |
|---|---|---|
| Yantian (Shenzhen) | 20GP / 40HQ chassis; warehouse delivery for LCL | Long-haul vessels with tight cut-offs; loading must be completed a day earlier |
| Shekou (Shenzhen) | Chassis for FCL; vanning at the CFS for LCL | Frequent short-haul sailings, so a late container can usually be rolled within a week |
| Nansha (Guangzhou) | Chassis; barge feeding from up-river terminals | Preferred loading point for cargo from Foshan, Zhongshan and the western Pearl River Delta |
| Huangpu (Guangzhou) | Smaller chassis and barges | Suits eastern Guangzhou, Dongguan and Foshan cargo that feeds Nansha or Shenzhen by barge |
The Beibu Gulf rail–sea corridor
| Route | Status | What we do with it |
|---|---|---|
| Rail from the inland provinces to Qinzhou, then ocean (Western Land–Sea Corridor) | In regular commercial use | Quoted for inland cargo after checking rail space and the connecting sailing |
| Inland barge via the Pinglu Canal to the Beibu Gulf | Opened September 2026, trial operation | Feasibility checked per shipment against barge availability and lock scheduling |
What can change an inland plan
| What happens | Effect | The choice you get |
|---|---|---|
| Factory loading runs late | The container misses the terminal cut-off | Hold to the next sailing, or pay for an overtime loading slot where the terminal offers one |
| Empty container released late | Pickup slot has to move | A later slot the same day, or the next morning before the cut-off |
| Customs queries the declaration | Container cannot gate in | Correct the declaration and re-file, or hold to the next vessel |
| Rail space unavailable on the planned date | The connecting sailing moves | An earlier rail booking, or routing the cargo by road to the origin port |
Inland and rail questions
Can you pick up from a factory that does not have a loading dock?
Yes, where the site can be reached by a container truck and the cargo can be loaded by forklift or by hand. Loading equipment at the factory stays the shipper's responsibility, and we confirm what the site has before booking the slot.
Do you handle palletised cargo and returns?
Yes. Pallets are recorded on the packing list so the count can be checked at both ends. Returned or rejected cargo is brought back on a separate instruction, priced on its own.
Can the container be loaded at the factory and railed to Qinzhou?
Where the plan allows it, yes. The container is loaded and sealed at the factory, then moved to the rail terminal. Sealing at origin is what keeps the cargo under your control for the whole route.
Is the canal route cheaper than trucking to Shenzhen?
Not automatically. It depends on the barge rate, the lock queue and the connecting sailing. That is why we quote it per shipment rather than advertising a general saving.
Send the pickup address and the ready date
We will confirm the plan, the partner legs and the transit time before anything is booked.