In today's rapidly integrating global economy, efficient and swift logistics networks have become a cornerstone of national competitiveness. The remarkable success of the China-Europe Railway Express "Chang'an" offers compelling insights into building world-class logistics corridors.
In 2020, the "Chang'an" express achieved record-breaking performance with 3,720 train trips and 2.811 million tons of cargo transported—figures representing 1.7 times and 1.6 times their 2019 counterparts respectively. These metrics not only secured its leading position nationally but also earned it top honors in quality assessment among all China-Europe rail services, demonstrating exceptional operational capabilities and management standards.
The service's coverage has expanded dramatically from initial linear routes to comprehensive networks, now operating 15 main lines reaching across Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and throughout Europe. This transformation has enhanced route efficiency while solidifying Xi'an's strategic position in global trade networks. Notably, the Xi'an assembly center has pioneered an innovative hub-and-spoke model, establishing 12 collection routes connecting major manufacturing regions including the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.
Through groundbreaking sea-rail intermodal solutions, the "Chang'an" express has integrated with global maritime systems, achieving seamless connectivity with Japan and South Korea. This has created bidirectional trade corridors linking Eurasia with maritime routes. The expanding transportation network now features daily round-trip public trains between Xi'an and Europe (2 departures and 2 returns daily), with return trips showing consistent annual growth—reaching 1,311 trips in 2020 while maintaining 100% container utilization rates.
This operational excellence has catalyzed industrial clustering and created unprecedented opportunities for trade and logistics enterprises. The Xi'an assembly center now hosts over 360 foreign trade companies and 300 logistics firms, including 11 relocated enterprises from southeastern coastal regions already in production, 15 in the implementation phase, and 30 with signed relocation agreements.
The "Chang'an" express has evolved beyond mere cargo transportation into a vital conduit for international trade and exchange. With continuous improvements to transport channels and growing industrial synergies, this logistics network promises to redefine efficiency in global supply chain operations for years to come.
