A China-Europe freight train carrying 55 containers departed from Huanghouyuan Railway Station in Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, on March 28, bound for the Russian capital, Moscow.

This marked the inaugural journey of the China-Europe freight train from Taiyuan to Moscow.

Goods are loaded on the freight train. [Photo/Shanxi Daily] 

The train will leave the country through Erenhot Port in Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and travel nearly 5,000 kilometers before reaching its destination.

The train's cargo includes cast iron parts produced in Shanxi, as well as automotive components, household appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, bicycles, water tanks, floor mats, and shoe soles from surrounding regions, totaling 29 different product categories.

Wang Xingdong, deputy general manager of Huayuan International Land Port Intermodal Transport (Shanxi) Co, the operator of the train, highlighted that through international intermodal trains such as the China-Europe freight train, Shanxi has been able to establish 15 normalized international intermodal routes. These routes travel through five ports, namely, Manzhouli Port, Erenhot Port, Horgos Port, Alashankou Port, and Mohan Port.

This has established an international logistics service system connecting more than 40 major cities in 16 countries. It has not only facilitated Shanxi's contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative, but also injected new momentum into the province's development.