Xi'an's China-Europe freight train in rapid growth

The inaugural Xi'an China-Europe freight train departed in 2013, initiating over ten years of consistent growth in the number of such trains leaving Xi'an.

By the end of 2023, the freight train had made a record-breaking 5,351 trips, a 15.3 percent increase from the previous year. Total commodity sales value reached 240 billion yuan ($33.94 billion).

In 2023, Xi'an became the first city in China to surpass 5,000 annual trips, accounting for about a quarter of the national total. Xi'an has maintained the top position nationwide for six consecutive years in key indicators such as train departures, freight volume, and container load rates.

The Xi'an China-Europe freight train symbolizes the Belt and Road Initiative. Xi'an Guogang Railway Station has emerged as the largest railway logistics center in Northwest China and a key hub for the freight train, which departs or arrives approximately every 1 hour and 40 minutes.

In July 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission allocated special funds to support the construction of demonstration projects for China-Europe freight train assembly centers in five key cities: Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Urumqi.

After four years of development, the Xi'an assembly center for the China-Europe freight train has made significant progress, notably with the opening of the Kazakhstan Xi'an Terminal, which commenced operations in February this year.

The China-Europe freight train has brought new opportunities for foreign trade development in Shaanxi province. From January to August this year, Shaanxi's total import and export trade value reached 300.67 billion yuan, a 15.8 percent year-on-year increase, ranking fourth nationwide for growth rate.

In addition to goods from local Shaanxi enterprises, many products such as cars, footwear, car LCD modules, and wireless routers from East and Central China are being gathered in Xi'an for export via the freight train.