1st freight train runs from Guizhou to Zhuhai port

Phase I of the Guizhou (Changming) International Land Port multimodal transport saw off its first block train from Guiding South Station on April 27. The first-ever border-crossing freight shipment from Southwestern China to overseas passed through Zhuhai Port -- a milestone for such operations in the province.

The 33-carriage train carried only chemical fertilizer directly to the seaport. Shipping only one commodity to a single destination allowed for speed and efficiency. The train embarked at 3:45 pm along the new Guizhou-Guangxi Railway serving Changming Town of Guiding County, Qiannan Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province.

Departure ceremony

This achievement brings Guizhou closer to its goal of being more open and accessible from all directions, according to an analyst.

Covering 5,220 acres, the land port attracted a joint investment of 1.5 billion yuan ($237 million) from Zhuhai Port Holdings Group and the Guiding government. Guizhou (Changming) International Land Port Co Ltd was established as joint venture to construct and operate the port.

Water routes and ports in the Pearl River system

Main functional areas such as container storage, railway core operation, and comprehensive bonded areas are to be developed shortly.

Within five years, the Guizhou land port is to become a hub along the Sichuan-Guizhou-Guangdong-Southern Asia International Logistics Channel and an important window between Southwestern China and the outside world.

Board chairman Ou Huisheng [Photos by Kang Zhenhua / Zhuhai Daily]

The Guizhou provincial and Qiannan Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture governments prioritized the project during their 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period to ensure it receives ample support. It was identified last year as a demonstration project by the Ministry of Transport and National Development & Reform Commission in recognition of its multimodal transport accomplishment.

Board chairman Ou Huisheng of Zhuhai Port Holdings Group pledged to highly efficiently service the international land port of the Southwestern China and to contribute to the economic boom of the area.

The port hopes to reach 80,000 TEUs in annual throughput by 2020, according to an executive.