Qingdao Port’s fully automated container terminal has been selected as one of 12 typical pilot cases for building China’s strength in transportation.

On August 25, the Ministry of Transport released the 2026 list of typical pilot cases at a national conference in Wuhan.

The cases cover six key areas, including high-quality integrated transport networks, system integration, safety improvement, digital and intelligent upgrading, green transformation and institutional reform.

Qingdao’s smart port case was selected for its breakthroughs in fully automated container terminal development. Facing challenges such as a lack of independent design experience, dependence on imported core systems and limited domestic automation equipment, Qingdao Port spent more than a decade advancing joint research across industry, academia and research institutions.

The port has built Asia’s first fully automated container terminal, the world’s first “hydrogen + 5G” smart green terminal, and China’s first fully domestic and independently controlled automated terminal.

With self-developed intelligent terminal control systems and domestic smart equipment, Qingdao Port has achieved throughput of more than 320,000 TEUs per 100 meters of quay line and repeatedly set new handling efficiency records for automated terminals.

The project has promoted the development of an independent smart port equipment supply chain and provided a replicable model for intelligent, efficient, safe and green port development.