North China port handles record number of China-Europe freight trains, cargo volume in 2025

The Erenhot Port, China's largest land port on the border with Mongolia, handled more than 3,900 China-Europe freight trains in 2025, with total cargo volume exceeding 4.5 million tonnes, both marking record highs, customs data showed.

The China-Europe freight trains exiting and entering the port totaled 3,986 in 2025, according to the data released by the China Railway Hohhot Group Co., Ltd.

In 2025, the port added new routes, including routes connecting Wuhu in east China's Anhui Province with Moscow, Russia, and Datong in north China's Shanxi Province with Selyatino, Russia.

Customs authorities have also taken a series of measures to enhance efficiency. Currently, the border inspection time for each train has been reduced to about 20 minutes.

As the sole transit port for the "middle corridor" of China-Europe freight train services, Erenhot now operates 75 routes, with an average of 12 trains passing through daily. These routes connect more than 70 cities in over 10 countries and regions, while also linking over 60 cities across China.

North China port handles record number of China-Europe freight trains, cargo volume in 2025

Chinese authorities are set to open duty-free shops each at 41 listed ports of entry to the country, including airports, sea ports and land border crossings, aiming to facilitate tax-free shopping for inbound travelers.

Five government departments, including the Ministry of Finance, made the announcement on Wednesday. They defined port-of-entry duty-free shops as stores located within the restricted zones of airports, sea ports or land border crossings. Spread across the country, these stores will only offer duty-free goods to inbound international passengers.

Analysts say the move will boost consumption and promote the sustained growth of the duty-free retail sector.

Beyond China's natural scenery and cultural appeal, shopping in the country is becoming an increasingly integral part of international tourists' travel itineraries. China has also been expanding its visa-free entry policies and refining tax-refund-upon-departure services for international tourists in recent years.

China to opens 41 new entry-port duty-free shops