Two strategic ports in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have been designated as national models for smart port development by China’s National Port Administration. Ganqimaodu Road Port and Manzhouli Railway Port emerged as standout performers among 311 ports nationwide in this prestigious recognition of digital innovation.
Ganqimaodu Road Port, serving as a critical energy corridor for China-Mongolia cooperation, has pioneered comprehensive smart port solutions encompassing operational protocols, construction standards, and data integration frameworks. The facility has established China’s inaugural dedicated cross-border lane for autonomous transport operations, marking a significant milestone in border logistics automation.
Through the implementation of automated guided vehicles and advanced clearance systems, Ganqimaodu has achieved remarkable efficiency gains. Customs processing efficiency has surged by over 60 percent, while transportation costs have been reduced by 15 percent. These innovations have earned the port dual recognition as both a national multimodal transport demonstration project and a China-SCO digital economy best practice case.
Meanwhile, Manzhouli Railway Port, which functions as the largest rail freight hub for China-Russia trade, has integrated cutting-edge 5G and Internet of Things technologies to develop a comprehensive cargo monitoring ecosystem. The port’s smart system incorporates intelligent dispatching mechanisms and sophisticated risk alert capabilities.
The technological transformation at Manzhouli has yielded dramatic operational improvements. Real-time data visualization and intelligent analytics have enabled the port to double its daily transshipment capacity from 420 to 840 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Additionally, full-train inspection procedures now require less than one minute to complete.
This national recognition underscores Inner Mongolia’s substantial contribution to China’s broader digital transformation of port infrastructure. Both facilities offer scalable and replicable solutions that demonstrate the potential of technological innovation in border logistics. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the region has allocated 410 million yuan (approximately $58.57 million) toward 50 smart port initiatives, significantly enhancing cross-border logistics efficiency and regulatory capacity through coordinated technological governance.









