In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Horgos, once a key post along the northern route of the ancient Silk Road, has grown into one of China's busiest land ports.
Horgos Port's development can be traced through six generations of the national gate built here, each reflecting a new stage in the port's role as a frontier hub.
In 1952, the first national gate of Horgos Port was built to strengthen border management. In 1986, the second-generation gate expanded to 894 square meters, as cross-border activity began to pick up.
By 1991, the third gate -- doubling the size of its predecessor -- was put into use. A year later, Horgos launched a border trade market, which later grew into the largest of its kind in inland China back the 1990s.
In 1996, the fourth-generation gate opened, featuring separate halls for passenger checks and freight lanes for vehicles. In 2008, as trade shifted toward bulk commodity imports and exports, the fifth gate was built to handle increasing traffic.
The Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 brought rapid changes. "On March 19, 2016, Horgos launched its first China-Europe freight train, marking the formal opening of a major transport corridor connecting Asia and Europe," said Buyinbatu Sarna, officer at Horgos Railway Port under China Railway Urumqi Group.
In 2018, the sixth-generation gate rose as a new landmark, coinciding with the full opening of the Western Europe-Western China Highway. Since then, efficiency at the port has soared.
"It used to take two to three days for a truck to clear customs at the fourth-generation gate. Now, it only takes six hours. With the opening of the sixth-generation gate and stronger opening-up policies, the outbound traffic has been growing every year, from just five vehicles daily to 300," said Yu Chengzhong, chairman of Horgos Jinyi International Trade Group Co., Ltd, an agricultural product company based in the city.
Data show that since 2018, annual vehicle crossings at Horgos Port surged from around 6,000 to 420,000, nearly a 70-fold increase. Cargo throughput rose from 36.73 million tons to nearly 45.57 million tons, keeping Horgos the busiest land port in Xinjiang for seven consecutive years.
The Horgos Railway Port has also emerged as an important passage for international land freight. Train trips there grew from fewer than 400 in 2016 to 8,730 in 2024, with cargo volumes climbing year after year.
Standing at the China-Kazakhstan border, the Horgos Area of China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone has become another major symbol of cross-border connectivity. Spanning over 5.6 square kilometers, it is China's first cross-border trade cooperation zone, hosting thousands of shops and goods from across the world.
"It is very convenient here [at the pilot free trade zone], as travelers only need to show one of the five types of documents, such as a passport, to enter without a visa. Since the center began operating in 2012, we have facilitated 50 million visitor entries for business, cultural exchanges, and cross-border tourism," said Dai Yanan, police officer at the Horgos Border Inspection Station.
From camel caravans to freight trains, Horgos has grown from a quiet frontier town into a modern trade hub. In 2024, its foreign trade value exceeded 100 billion yuan (over 14 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time, underscoring its role as a vital gateway between China and the world.
Horgos Port marks transformation from ancient gateway to modern trade hub
