At around 12:30 pm on November 17, a China-Europe freight train, loaded with machinery, automotive parts, electronics, and clothing, departed from the CR Intermodal Zhengzhou Terminal, heading towards Liège, Belgium. "Recently, we've seen more than 10 international freight trains arriving or departing every day," said Gong Yundan, field director at the CR Intermodal Zhengzhou Terminal. "Henan's 'steel caravan' is getting busier and busier."
As of November 15, the total number of China-Europe freight trains has surpassed 100,000, with Henan contributing 13,000. According to the Provincial Port Office, from July 18, 2013, to November 15 of this year, the number of China-Europe freight trains operating from Henan has exceeded 13,000 with a total cargo weight of over 9.8 million tons. Notably, from January 1 to November 15 this year, more than 230,000 TEUs of goods, worth over 4.8 billion US dollars were transported, with locally sourced goods increasing by about 5% compared to last year.
In recent years, China-Europe freight trains have become a pivotal tool for Henan to integrate into the Belt and Road Initiative and build new economic advantages as a central hub. Henan has strategically focused its efforts, consolidated resources, and coordinated policies to expand and enhance its China-Europe freight train services, paving the way for the province's broader opening up along the "Land Silk Road". In 2020, Zhengzhou was designated as one of the five major China-Europe freight train assembly centers nationwide. In 2021 and 2022, Anyang and Zhengzhou were successively approved for the development of national logistics hubs with inland port features.
Connecting domestic and international markets, Henan is accelerating the development and enhancement of the "Land Silk Road" international corridor in line with the plan of "stabilizing the west strengthening the north, and expanding the south". Taking the China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou) as an example, several new direct destinations have been added this year, including Belgrade (Serbia), Herne (Netherlands), Baku (Azerbaijan), and Istanbul (Turkey). Currently, Henan's China-Europe freight train services have established an extensive international logistics network, with 25 foreign direct destinations and 8 entry and exit ports. Additionally, new routes have been launched along the Southern Corridor, crossing the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the newly developed Western Land-Sea Corridor. The overseas network now covers over 140 cities in 40 countries across Europe and Asia, while the domestic network extends to all provinces except Tibet. This effectively positions Henan as a strategic gateway rooted in Central China, serving the entire nation while connecting to the world.
Driving the integration of transportation, trade, and production, the China-Europe freight trains continue to build strong momentum, ensuring goods reach destinations worldwide. Over the years, Henan has leveraged its transportation and distribution advantages, actively developing operational models such as "freight train + industrial park", "freight train + e-commerce", and "freight train + bulk commodities", which have led to the creation of distinctive services like "digital freight trains", "temperature-controlled freight trains", and "integrated transportation and trade". Specialized trains have been launched for cross-border e-commerce, international mail, coal machinery, new energy vehicles, Xinyang tea, fruit cold chains, and other products. As a result, the industrial strength and international competitiveness of Henan's China-Europe freight train services have been significantly boosted. (Chinese Source: Henan Daily Reporter: Song Min and Wang Yanhui Translator: Zhou Jinmiao Intern: Qin Jingzhu Proofreader: Ding Lan & Zhao Hanqing)
