Xi’an in Northwest China's Shaanxi province is rapidly emerging as one of China’s most important inland ports.

The city’s Xi’an International Trade and Logistics Park has overcome its geographical constraints by promoting a new mixed logistics network, which combines sea, air and rail services.

Rail has been a particular area of focus, allowing Xi’an to reclaim its ancient role as China’s gateway to the great Silk Road connecting East Asia with Europe via the plains of Central Asia.

In 2013, the first China-Asia freight train left Xi’an for Almaty in Kazakhstan. Since then, freight train services have been launched between Xi’an and various Asian and European cities, including Warsaw, Poland, and Hamburg in Germany.

As of April 1, a total of 317 freight trains have left Xi’an, carrying 470,400 tons of cargos.

“In this year, we have also made plans to launch freight train services to Tehran in Iran,” said Bai Qinbin, an official from Xi’an International Trade and Logistics Park.

According to Bai, the Xi’an port is also cooperating with costal ports in Shanghai, Qingdao, Ningbo and Tianjin to develop combined maritime-rail freight routes. With these combined transport services, goods can be transported to countries which cannot be connected purely by rail, such as Canada and the US.

“The aim of launching Xi’an International Trade and Logistics Park is to serve West China and help promote China’s economy,” said Bai.

A freight train leaves Xi’an International Trade and Logistics Park for Warsaw, Poland, on Aug 18, 2016. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Source from China Daily