What Kerala can learn from Kollam's maritime legacy and China's Pinglu Canal project

A few years ago, a comrade from Kollam, Kerala, travelled to China and upon return from the neighbouring country wrote a book recounting her experiences.

The work is titled 'Chankile China, Oru Chinnakadakariyude Cheena Yathra (With China in heart, a trip to China by a native woman from Chinnakada)'.

Chinnakada is a town in the heart of Kollam. The book's title is particularly apt, given the fact that the author hails from Kollam.

It resonates even more when viewed against the backdrop of the city's rich maritime history and its longstanding trade links with China. Perhaps the author's journey to China is, in a sense, a reconnection with this shared historical legacy—retracing the pathways that once linked Kollam to the Middle Kingdom.

Kollam was once a flourishing trading centre and traders from many foreign countries often visited the port to collect invaluable spices and other local products.

Centuries ago, during the Tang Dynasty, many Chinese traders often travelled to Kollam and even introduced coins instead of barter system for transactions. Coins from the Tang dynasty, which were later discovered, are now kept safely in the hands of Kerala University authorities.

Meanwhile, a controversy recently erupted in China, with some questioning the very existence of the Tang Dynasty. However, the debate now appears to have largely subsided, following clarifications and rebuttals from various quarters, including Chinese state media.

Since ancient times, Kollam maintained vibrant maritime trade links with regions as far as Spain, Greece, Egypt, China, Sumatra, and Java. References to Kollam can be found in the accounts of travellers who visited the region as early as the first century AD.

The Arab traveller Sulaiman, who visited Kerala in AD 851, provided a vivid description of Kollam in his memoirs. He recorded the presence of Chinese ships at the port and described Kollam as one of the most important trading centres of South India.

The Venetian traveller Marco Polo, during his visit to India in 1298, also visited Kollam and left an elaborate account of the social life, customs, and economic prosperity of the region during that period.

Historical records suggest that as early as the eighth century AD, Chinese vessels were sighted at the port of Kollam, with Chinese merchants actively participating in its flourishing trade network. However, as witnessed in many other trading centres, Chinese traders gradually disappeared from the scene over time. This may have been due to dynastic changes within China, as well as the emergence of merchants from other regions who came to dominate an increasingly vibrant and competitive commercial environment.

The Chinese were primarily involved in the trade of spices, particularly pepper and ginger. Marco Polo also referred to the vast quantities of pepper exported from Kollam to China, underscoring the importance of the port in the medieval spice trade.

John of Montecorvino, who later became the first Archbishop of Beijing, passed through Kollam during his journey to China at around 1291-1292. His writings provide valuable insights into the commercial life of the port, where he observed the prominent role played by Arab merchants in regional and international trade.

He observed that Arab merchants had outperformed Chinese, Jewish, and Christian traders in the commercial sphere at Kollam, highlighting the dominant position Arabs had attained in the region's trade during that period.

The renowned Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta visited Kollam and Kozhikode in 1342 during his journey along the Malabar Coast. He left detailed accounts of maritime commerce, local rulers, merchant communities, and everyday life in the region.

His writings are among the most valuable foreign narratives on mediaeval Kerala, offering rare insights into the thriving trade networks and commercial practices of major port cities such as Kollam and Kozhikode.

Historical records, including evidence from ancient maritime voyages, indicate that Neendakara in Kollam served as a well-established port from early times.

Merchants from different parts of the world are believed to have anchored their vessels at this port, where an organised system was in place for the collection of customs duties and tolls.

Another significant feature was the navigable channel linking the Port of Neendakara with the inland waters of the Ashtamudi Lake, facilitating the movement of goods into the hinterland. Historical accounts suggest that smaller vessels, particularly those of Chinese origin, sailed through this route to the eastern reaches of Ashtamudi to procure spices and other commodities.

As the Government of Kerala pursues the development of ports along its coastline under Mission Samudra to boost trade and economic growth, it is imperative to gain a clear understanding of the historical maritime routes and the nations that maintained commercial ties with Kerala.

Historical evidence reveals that Arab, Jewish, and Chinese merchants played a pivotal role in expanding overseas trade through several ports along the Kerala coast, with Kollam emerging as one of the most prominent.

In the context of contemporary maritime strategy, it may not be prudent to expand Kollam Port into a major port, given the inherent constraints it faces and the presence of two significant ports nearby—the rapidly emerging Vizhinjam International Seaport and the well-established Cochin Port.

However, policymakers may draw valuable lessons from Kollam's illustrious maritime past.

The port's historical prominence and its sophisticated engagement with foreign traders, even during the mediaeval period, offer important insights for shaping modern trade and port development strategies. Reviving and adapting some of these time-tested commercial practices could contribute meaningfully to Kerala's broader maritime and economic ambitions.

This historical legacy should be revived in the modern era as Kerala proceeds with the development of its ports. The Government of Kerala has an important role to play in re-establishing and strengthening commercial relations with countries that once maintained vibrant trade links with the region.

However, the global economic landscape has undergone a profound transformation over the centuries. Many of the countries and trading powers that once maintained close commercial links with Kerala no longer occupy the same position in international trade.

In their place, new economic centres and emerging markets have risen to prominence. While several European nations continue to rank among the world's advanced economies, their relative share of global trade and economic influence has diminished compared to earlier eras.

Similarly, many countries in the Arab world face economic and geopolitical challenges stemming from regional conflicts, political instability, and the uncertainties associated with an evolving global economy.

As noted earlier, the Kollam Port was once linked to the inland backwaters through a canal that facilitated the movement of goods from the hinterland to the coast.

In this context, Kerala may draw inspiration from contemporary examples of integrated waterway infrastructure, such as China's Pinglu Canal, a major engineering project that connects the Xijiang River—part of the Pearl River system—with the Beibu Gulf.

The Canal is located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. It runs entirely within Guangxi, connecting the Xijin Reservoir near Hengzhou (Nanning area) on the Xijiang River system to the Qinzhou Port on the Beibu Gulf (Gulf of Tonkin). The canal was opened on September 16, 2026 and covers a distance of 134.2km.

By creating a direct river-sea transport corridor, the canal is expected to enhance logistics efficiency, reduce transportation costs, and strengthen regional trade connectivity. Its development also highlights how strategic investments in inland waterways can stimulate economic growth and facilitate greater commercial exchanges between regions.

For Kerala, the historical linkage between the Kollam Port and the Ashtamudi backwaters underscores the potential value of revitalising and integrating inland water transport networks as part of a broader maritime and trade development strategy.

Drawing lessons from both its own maritime heritage and successful modern examples elsewhere, Kerala can explore the development and modernisation of canal-based transport systems that connect ports with the hinterland.

Districts such as Alappuzha, with its extensive network of backwaters and waterways, are particularly well-suited to such initiatives.

Improved connectivity between inland waterways and coastal ports could enhance freight movement, reduce transportation costs, support local industries, and contribute to sustainable economic development.

The author is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Public Policy Research, Kochi.

(The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.)