LANZHOU — A new China-Europe freight train service was launched on May 17, linking Wuwei city in Northwest China's Gansu province with Duisburg in Germany.

A freight train loaded with 50 cargo containers departed from Wuwei South Station on May 17, heading west to Duisburg.

The journey of more than 9,000 km takes 18 days. Compared with offshore shipping, it saves about 30 days in transportation time, according to the China Railway Lanzhou Bureau Group Co Ltd based in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu.

The service operator said that exporters had sent the outbound cargo from Tianjin Municipality and the provinces of Zhejiang, Guangdong and Shandong to a bonded logistics zone in Wuwei, where the goods were packed onto the freight train for export.

The first batch of exports weighed a total of 739 tons, with a value of approximately 22 million yuan ($3.4 million). The goods included automation machinery, industrial parts, stainless steel kitchenware, office supplies and small household appliances.