At the railway port in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China-Europe freight trains fully loaded with cargo await departure. They stand as a vivid testament to the city’s drive to open up new pathways for opening-up and growth.

Renowned as the “world’s capital of small commodities”, Yiwu serves as the starting point for Zhejiang’s China-Europe freight routes (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe), and also marks the origin of the Yiwu-Ningbo-Zhoushan sea-rail intermodal transport network.

So far, Zhejiang’s China-Europe freight trains have opened 27 routes, connecting over 50 countries and regions across Eurasia. In addition, the sea-rail line linking Yiwu and Ningbo Zhoushan Port has ranked as Zhejiang’s busiest rail-water transport corridor in terms of cargo volume.

Huang Wei, a senior locomotive driver at Hangzhou Rolling Stock Depot who pilots the initial section of the China-Europe freight routes, has witnessed the evolution of this rail link over the years and shared his insights.

He noted that Yiwu’s logistics landscape has undergone a remarkable shift. The city, once heavily dependent on traditional sea shipping for its small commodities, now boasts highly efficient cross-border rail transport thanks to the expansion of China-Europe freight trains.

These rail services have further cemented Yiwu’s status as an international logistics hub and underpinned the steady growth of freight operations. Their thriving development also demonstrates how China’s railway network plays a vital role in boosting global trade.