Objective Driven by the “dual carbon” goals, natural gas has become increasingly vital in the energy transition. Ensuring the fair and open operation of the natural gas pipeline network has become the key to advancing market-oriented reforms. Although China has established the basic framework of “one pipeline network nationwide”, challenges remain in third-party access, information disclosure, gas volume balancing, pricing mechanisms, and provincial network integration, limiting resource allocation efficiency and infrastructure functionality. Systematic analysis of China’s natural gas pipeline network operations, identification of key bottlenecks, and formulation of reform strategies are essential to enhancing market vitality and securing supply reliability.

Methods Based on policy review and comparative analysis, the current status and development trends of China’s natural gas pipeline network infrastructure, capacity allocation, transportation pricing, and fair access policies were systematically examined, major operational challenges were identified, and targeted policy recommendations were proposed.

Results While China’s natural gas pipeline network is rapidly expanding physically, institutional development and market-oriented operations lag behind. Key issues include: (1) an underdeveloped third-party access system and insufficiently refined operating rules; (2) low transparency and non-standardized disclosure of pipeline infrastructure information; (3) limited marketization of capacity allocation and absence of a gas volume balancing mechanism; (4) a pricing structure that fails to differentiate user load and service levels, coupled with a high allowable rate of return; and (5) resistance to provincial pipeline network integration due to system, pricing, and dispatching coordination challenges, resulting in slow progress toward fair access. To address these issues, it is recommended to enhance the natural gas regulatory framework and refine operational rules, establish a resource competition uploading center of PipeChina, improve pipeline capacity allocation and gas volume balancing mechanisms, gradually implement a two-part tariff system, and promote the integration and harmonization of provincial pipeline networks. These measures will systematically advance fair access and support the high-quality development of China’s natural gas market.

Conclusion The research findings offer valuable policy guidance to enhance fair and open operation of China’s natural gas pipeline network, improve infrastructure efficiency, and foster diversified competition in the market.