The ancient Silk Road, once melodious with camel bells, is now awakened by the whistle of the China Europe freight train. This steel artery spanning across the Eurasian continent is undergoing a profound transformation - from the initial point-to-point operation to the accelerated transformation into a hub to hub modern logistics system. The 14 gathering centers established in different regions within China are like shining pearls, connecting the trade channels that connect Asia and Europe.

Transforming the inland hinterland into an open frontier

Entering Xi'an International Port Station, the busy scene is shocking. The gantry cranes keep coming and going, and the running trucks are in a continuous stream, with an average of one train in and out every 80 minutes. The starting station of the first China Europe freight train 12 years ago has now developed into an important hub with 18 international trunk lines and 26 domestic assembly lines. Yuan Xiaojun, General Manager of Xi'an International Port Group Co., Ltd., introduced: "The operating interval has been shortened by 20 minutes compared to last year, and the core indicators have ranked first in the country for seven consecutive years

The same transformation is happening at Chongqing Tuanjie Village Station. This once located inland station in the southwest has now become a strategic pivot connecting the world, vividly interpreting the profound connotation of hub economy.

Building, sharing, and expanding new spaces for cooperation

The agglomeration effect of the China Europe freight train has stimulated the participation enthusiasm of countries along the route. In Duisburg, Germany, the local authorities are actively promoting infrastructure upgrades; In Almaty, Kazakhstan, the China Xi'an Kazakhstan Terminal, which was completed in June 2025, echoes the previously put into operation Kazakhstan Xi'an Terminal from east to west, creating a new pattern of dual hub linkage.

Ozas Alibilov, Deputy General Manager of China Branch of Harbin Iron and Steel Express Co., Ltd., said, "Through this terminal, our goods can go south to Southeast Asia, which opens up a new trade channel for Kazakhstan. This virtuous cycle of heavy container going and heavy container returning has truly realized trade interconnection and benefit sharing on the Silk Road.

Channel economy generates new driving forces for development

The China Europe freight train not only brings logistics convenience, but also industrial transformation. In the Shaanxi Konka Intelligent Home Appliance Industrial Park, which is less than 1 kilometer away from the Xi'an assembly center, a dishwasher is taken offline every 20 seconds on the intelligent production line. More than 60% of our products are exported through China Europe freight trains, "said General Manager Chen Zhao." As of September 2025, we have shipped 47 special trains with a total of 239600 household appliances

This model of logistics driven industry and industry driven development is being replicated in various regions along the route. The China Europe freight train not only reduces logistics costs, but also reconstructs industrial layout, promoting the deep integration of Chinese manufacturing into the global industrial chain.

With the integration of trunk and branch lines and the increasingly perfect hub distribution system, the China Europe freight train is showing stronger vitality. Li Na, the general manager of Beijing Trans Eurasia International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd., said, "The continuous optimization of train transportation time enables us to provide customers with more high-quality and environmentally friendly supply chain solutions." Key words: the Belt and Road, connectivity

Nowadays, this steel silk road is not only a channel for transporting goods, but also a bridge of friendship and a link of development. On the new journey, the China EU Train will continue to write a wonderful story of connectivity and win-win cooperation, and inject continuous momentum into the joint construction of the the Belt and Road.Editor/Cheng Liting