Xinjiang's Alashankou Port handled 7,684 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train services in 2024, setting a record high and registering a 15.8 percent year-on-year increase, according to latest report form the railway department.
The port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region saw off the region's first China-Europe freight train of 2025 just 20 minutes after the new year arrived.
The train fully loaded with daily necessities, machinery and auto parts left on Wednesday, heading to Małaszewicze of Poland.
Alashankou Railway Port has seen an over 15 percent increase in its capacity for broad-gauge and standard-gauge freight train operations over the same period last year.
In 2024, the port has added eight new freight train routes, with a record of 29 trains passing through in a single day.
"The average number of trains passing through the port every day is 21. We're tracking the traffic flow in real time, with attention paid to ensure seamless connection of operation links such as bill circulation, pick-up and delivery of coaches and cargo loading. Those efforts are made to well organize the inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains and improve the overall traffic efficiency at the port," said Yan Huapeng, director of the operation workshop of Alashankou Railway Station, China Railway Urumqi Group.
To further improve the efficiency of cross-border freight services, customs authority at Alashankou has set a special window for these services, offering around-the-clock green channel. The customs authority regularly reviews the entire clearance process and refines operational protocols for each stage to ensure smooth coordination.
At present, a total of 123 China-Europe freight train routes pass through Alashankou Port, transporting more than 200 kinds of goods, including complete vehicles, engineering equipment and other high value-added items, to 21 countries and regions in Europe and Asia.
Alashankou is China's important westbound port and the closest railway port to the European Union. The steady growth of China-Europe freight train services in terms of scale provides strong logistic support to the trade between China and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries.
Xinjiang's Alashankou port handles 7,684 China-Europe trains in 2024
Xinjiang's Alashankou port handles 7,684 China-Europe trains in 2024
As the Spring Festival approaches, north and east China are experiencing a surge in demand for traditional delicacies, including vinegar and intricately decorated steamed buns.
The Laba Festival, which falls on Jan 7, is just around the corner. In celebration, residents in Taiyuan City, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, flocked to a well-known vinegar shop to fill their containers with vinegar - a time-honored tradition marking the occasion.
The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th month on the Chinese lunar calendar, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year.
As a longstanding custom during the festival, locals bring their own containers, mainly large buckets and jars, to fill with freshly made vinegar.
"The tradition of preparing vinegar for the Laba Festival has been passed down through generations. Folks here love buying the freshly made, time-honored brands, because the hot vinegar tastes especially good," said Liu Xiaojing, a staff member at a local vinegar company.
"The vinegar is still hot. I can still feel the warmth. This is an old brand, and I've been eating it since I was a child. It has a long history," said Huo Yanzhen, a local resident.
Steamed buns with colorful patterns are also experiencing a surge in sales in Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province. These creative buns, a must-have for many families in the area, are flying off the shelves as shops ramp up both online and offline efforts, stocking up to meet the demand of the pre-festival sales boom.
At a local steamed bun shop, workers were busy preparing 3,000 kilograms of fish-shaped buns. These buns are particularly popular during this time of year, as fish symbolize good fortune and wealth in Chinese culture.
"Sales have definitely picked up since New Year's Day. We're selling about 2,000 to 3,000 jin (about 1,000 to 1,500 kilograms) daily, and we expect to sell nearly 100,000 jin (about 50,000 kilograms) over the next month," said Lu Haiyan, the shop owner.
"Older people nowadays don't like food that are too sweet. They prefer traditional Chinese pastries like these, which are made with healthy ingredients. They're good for the body, so we prefer them," said a local resident.
In addition to the offline sales, the shop has embraced online marketing, posting short videos of their decorative buns on social media platforms.
The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 29 this year and the Spring Festival holiday will last until Feb. 4. It is China's most important festival and an occasion for family reunion.
Sales of traditional delicacies surge ahead of Spring Festival
