A new route of the China-Europe Railway Express, connecting Tongjiang City in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province with Moscow, Russia, was inaugurated on Tuesday.
This marked the departure of 110 standard containers from the northeastern city's intermodal center of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area.
The cargo, consisting of home appliances such as refrigerators, TVs, and washing machines manufactured in Qingdao and valued at around 12 million yuan (about 1.66 million U.S. dollars), embarked on a journey from Tongjiang port in Heilongjiang to Moscow, the Russian capital after the customs clearance in Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province. Around 20 days later, this train will arrive in Moscow.
"The China-Europe Railway Express operates effectively and provides stable logistics options for enterprises engaging in exports and imports. The variety of commodities exported from the China-SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area has increased, with high-value-added products like home appliances and vehicles becoming the main exports," stated Zhang Qinghai, director of the Jiaozhou Customs in Qingdao.
To date, the demonstration area's international route network has expanded to include 22 lines reaching 54 cities across 23 SCO and Belt and Road countries. More than 3,400 trains have set off from the demonstration area, carrying 2.633 million tons of goods in 281,000 TEU containers for import and export.
New China-Europe Railway Express route connects northeastern city with Moscow
A special movie-themed flight campaign lifted off with Xiamen Airlines on Tuesday, blending film culture with tourism promotion to deliver a unique in-flight experience for passengers ahead of China's upcoming May Day holiday.
The campaign took off aboard a plane operated by Xiamen Airlines, which are based in east China's Fujian Province, bringing the magic of the big screen to the small screens on passengers' seats.
The aircraft's cabin has been adorned with film-themed posters and exclusive decorations, with brochures introducing the featured film content placed in seat pockets.
During the flight, the crew also hosted an interactive question-and-answer session, where they promoted some of the top films scheduled for release during the five-day May Day holiday which begins on Friday.
They also shared insights into the featured films, including the cultural and tourism resources of their shooting locations, giving passengers inside cinematic info and essential travel tips during their trip.
The immersive themed experience resonated well with passengers on the flight, who say they are now eager to check out some of the latest film releases.
"There are eight films recommended here, and I'm going to watch them when I get back. I'm keen to see Cold War 1994, because I'm a big fan of Aaron Kwok and the other cast members. I have been following the film all along," said Wang Jianghai, a passenger on the flight, as he expressed his interest in the upcoming crime thriller set in Hong Kong.
The flight attendants involved say they enjoyed having their role extend beyond the standard service duties during this particular plane ride, as they led passengers on this cinematic voyage.
"Today, we are more than just flight attendants. We are more like guides for this movie-themed journey. At 10,000 meters in the air, we get to plant a seed in our passengers' hearts that will make them want to take a trip or go watch that film. We want this to be the start of a beautiful memory for them," said Zhu Yanyan, the flight's chief attendant.
The launch of the themed flight comes as China braces for a surge in travel and cultural consumption during the May Day holiday. By integrating cinematic content with air travel scenarios, the campaign seeks to build a seamless link between the film and cultural tourism sectors, unlocking new growth momentum for both industries.
Movie-themed flight takes off in Fujian, integrating film culture with tourism
