The first China-Europe freight train of the Year of the Horse departed from Guojigang Railway Station in Xi'an City, northwestern Shaanxi Province, at 03:55 on Tuesday, which marked the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year.
The X8155 freight train, bound for Duisburg, Germany, carries a full load of electronics, auto parts, festive food products and specialty light industrial goods.
It is expected to reach its destination in around 12 days.
1st China-Europe freight train in Year of Horse leaves Xi'an for Germany
The unique experience of watching the China Media Group (CMG) 2026 Spring Festival Gala on planes has turned air travel into a festive gathering, offering passengers "flying festivities".
Onboard flight MU5125 from Shanghai to Beijing, the festive atmosphere was palpable. Decorated with spring couplets and Chinese character "Fu", which means good fortune, the cabin was filled with joy as many passengers used their phones and tablets to stream the gala live, thanks to the free high-speed in-flight WiFi service.
"I really didn't expect watching the Spring Festival Gala on the plane to be so smooth. Once we reached cruising altitude, we connected to the WiFi right away. This experience is truly wonderful," said a passenger surnamed Cao.
Passengers aboard Sichuan Airlines flight 3U6879 also watched the Gala.
The Gala this year features four sub-venues in addition to the main stage in Beijing. Taking the grand show to new locations each year has become a new tradition, shining a spotlight on more of China's varied landscapes and cultural traditions.
A passenger from the sub-venue of Yibin expressed his pride.
"I'm from Yibin, and I was thrilled and amazed to see our city's sub-venue on board," said a passenger named Zhang Bo.
"On the eve of the Chinese New Year, we've created themed flights across all internet-enabled routes so passengers can enjoy the Spring Festival Gala at high altitude, allowing them to feel the festive atmosphere even during their air travels," said Wu Dan, manager of the Cabin Service Department of Sichuan Airlines.
This initiative was launched by CMG in collaboration with several airlines. Around 300 flights from China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines participated, reaching nearly 70,000 travelers.
"To ensure passengers can watch the Spring Festival Gala live at around 10,000 meters high in the sky and celebrate New Year's Eve with friends and family on the ground, we conducted multiple rounds of comprehensive pressure testing and system optimizations (in advance) to guarantee stable and smooth high-speed WiFi on board," said Chen Mengying, a member from China Satellite Communications Co., Ltd.
CMG's Spring Festival gala takes to skies on flight to offer passengers "flying festivities"
