Recently, the Guangzhou Port announced a public tender for the design and construction of a major expansion project at Fangcun Pier, operated by Guangdong Province Port and Shipping Group Co., Ltd. The project plans to upgrade the current 500GT passenger berth to a 2000GT tourist passenger berth.

This development aims to enhance infrastructure, including the pier, access bridge, and supporting civil, electrical, water, and navigation facilities, potentially enabling cross-city cruise services in the future. The upgraded pier is expected to handle an annual capacity of 609,000 passengers.

The tender notice specifies that the existing 500GT berth will be transformed into a 2000GT berth, with significant construction work planned. The pier will adopt a steel floating dock structure, consisting of two pontoons (50m×8m and 45m×8m), mooring facilities, a fixed platform with a steel access bridge, passenger boarding equipment, and necessary utilities.

Fangcun Pier is strategically located at Xinyi Hall, Mingxin Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou (廣州市荔灣長堤明心路信義會館), on the right bank of the southern channel of Guangzhou, opposite Zhoutouzui (洲頭咀) Passenger Terminal. It primarily serves the Pearl River sightseeing route. Currently, Fangcun Pier operates with a single 500GT berth.

Fangcun Pier's current operations include night cruises along the Pearl River, with routes running from Dashatou Pier (大沙頭碼頭) to Haixinsha Asian Games Venue (海心沙亞運會場) and returning via landmarks such as Haizhu Bridge and Canton Tower. The cruise ships dock, recharge, and restock at Fangcun Pier during the day and serve passengers from Dashatou Pier in the evening.

The Pearl River in Guangzhou comprises the western, eastern (main), southern (back), and Huangpu channels. The western channel spans 16.24 km from Laoyagang (老鴉崗) to Baie'tan(白鵝潭). Preliminary design documents indicate that current western Pearl River cruises attract few tourists, concentrating mainly on the eastern route. However, the Baie'tan Greater Bay Area Art Center near Fangcun Pier is expected to draw substantial visitor traffic, boosting the potential for western Pearl River cruises.

Considering Fangcun Pier's development, Guangzhou's resident population, overnight tourist numbers, and tourism industry plans, the project's passenger volume is forecasted to account for approximately 55% of the total city cruise terminal passenger volume, about 300,000 passengers annually. Initial design projections estimate the pier will handle 500,000 passengers in 2025 and 600,000 passengers in 2030, factoring in the growth of western Pearl River cruise operations.

The project also aligns with plans for intercity cruise tourism, catering to weekend and short holiday trips. The near-term plan includes the "Guangzhou-Foshan-Qingyuan" route, with potential extensions to coastal cities like Shenzhen and Zhuhai. The planned route covers approximately 125 kilometers from Fangcun Pier to the Qingyuan Dingxiang Garden Pier, via the Foshan Sanlongwan Pier.

In recent years, Pearl River cruises have hosted corporate events, weddings, business meetings, and other water activities. Future offerings are expected to include sightseeing, water-based conferences, social gatherings, family trips, and short trips along the Beijiang River to Qingyuan. Additionally, coastal cruises to Hainan and Xisha Islands are anticipated, with Fangcun Pier accommodating larger cruise ships ranging from 1000GT to 2000GT.