With the sound of a long whistle, a Zhejiang China-Europe freight train (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe), fully loaded with 100 containers of daily necessities, hardware tools, and festive items, slowly departed from Yiwu West Railway Station, heading towards the Eurasian continent. As a "steel camel caravan" connecting China and Eurasia, the increasing number of trips and expanding coverage of the Zhejiang China-Europe freight train (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe) have injected vitality into the economic development of countries and regions along the route.

According to statistics from Hangzhou Customs, in January 2026, the Zhejiang China-Europe freight train (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe) dispatched 346 trains, with customs supervising the import and export of 28,000 containers, representing year-on-year growth of 13.1% and 11.8%, respectively. During the 2026 Spring Festival holiday (February 15 to 23), the freight train maintained operations without interruption, with plans to run at least three trains daily.

The containers dispatched this time were uniformly designed by Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe Trade Service Group Co., Ltd., with the city logo "Yiwu: A City of Loyalty and Righteousness" prominently sprayed on the exterior. This spreads Yiwu's "Six Virtues" spirit—loyalty, righteousness, filial piety, benevolence, chivalry, and trustworthiness—both domestically and internationally. Additionally, this year, the China Central Television (CCTV) Spring Festival Gala set up a sub-venue in Yiwu, vividly showcasing the vibrant energy of the "World's Supermarket." The program also incorporated elements of the China-Europe freight train, using the imagery of the "steel camel caravan" connecting the world and serving the globe, harmonizing with the theme of family reunions during the Chinese New Year.

"Since the beginning of this year, the Zhejiang China-Europe freight train (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe) has not only achieved double-digit growth in shipment volume but also transported a wide variety of import and export goods," said Zhou Huawei, head of the second supervision section at Yiwu Customs, holding a customs declaration form. Exported goods include car engines and machinery, while the return trains are fully loaded with imported items such as wine and dairy products, enriching the domestic market.

Faster than sea freight and more cost-effective than air freight, the Zhejiang China-Europe freight train has become the choice of many logistics companies due to its efficient and stable transportation services. "In January this year, we declared over 3,600 export shipments through the Zhejiang China-Europe freight train, achieving paperless declarations, streamlined customs clearance, and visualized data tracking throughout the process, significantly improving efficiency," said Chen Jiawei, a staff member at Yiwu Tongou Customs Brokerage Co., Ltd.

Reporters learned that to ensure the efficient operation of the freight train, Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe Group, in collaboration with the Yiwu Market Development Committee and Yiwu International Land Port Group, along with customs, railway, and other departments, has precisely formulated operation plans, optimized workflows, and strengthened customs clearance support. This has achieved efficient coordination across the entire chain of dispatch, loading, unloading, and transportation, fully supporting the domestic and international dual circulation.