The China-Europe Railway Express, launched in 2011, has become a crucial platform for win-win cooperation and economic growth throughout Eurasia and beyond.
A total of 128 Chinese cities have joined the service, reaching 229 cities across 26 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. This expanding network is unlocking new economic and trade opportunities across continents.
The freight train service has completed over 110,000 trips to date, including return journeys, transporting goods valued at more than 450 billion U.S. dollars.
"The operation of the China-Europe Railway Express has provided inland freight forwarding and export companies with an expanded service area, covering landlocked countries like the five Central Asian countries, which don't have any cities along the sea. Goods from Shanxi can be directly delivered via the railway. At the same time, imports from Japan, South Korea and the United States can be offloaded at Tianjin or Lianyungang ports in China and then transported via the railway, opening a new trade route for these countries," said Chen Guowei, general manager of the Shanxi Daxu Cargo Storage Company in north China's Taiyuan City.
This efficient sea-rail intermodal transportation system, which Chen described, has reshaped the trade map of the China-Europe freight train service. By combining the cost-effectiveness of sea freight with the speed of rail, this model brings renewed vitality to the movement of goods among China, other Asian countries, Europe and beyond.
Beyond expanding in volume and reach, the train service is diversifying its cargo to include high-end products such as photovoltaic panels and electric vehicles, as well as temperature-sensitive items like fresh food and pharmaceuticals.
China-Europe railway service boosts economic growth across Eurasia
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
