Shanxi province's first China Railway Express freight train in 2023 departed from Zhongding Logistics Park for Vorsino in Russia on Jan 6. 

The train, carrying 67 containers loaded with goods such as manganese iron, bicycles, and plastic pipes, will leave China from Ereenhot Port in Inner Mongolia autonomous region, via Mongolia and other countries, and arrive at its destination in about 16 days. 

This is the sixth year that Shanxi has launched its China Railway Express services, and so far, the province has operated 644 freight trains with a cargo weight of 679,900 metric tons. 

The province has opened 10 stable international freight rail routes directly to the Eurasian continent, including Moscow, Minsk, Malashevich, Almaty and Tashkent. The routes cover 28 cities in 13 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. 

The categories of goods transported by China Railway Express freight train expanded to wheels, stainless steel, solar photovoltaic modules and condiments from Taiyuan; medicine from Datong; flanges and kaolin from Xinzhou; ceramics from Shuozhou; glassware and castings from Jinzhong and Yuncheng; and food additives from Yangquan. 

On the return trains, the imported cargo includes wood, cotton yarn, and electrolytic copper from Russia, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.