HOHHOT — North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region is increasingly important for connecting China and Europe, according to customs data.

Customs statistics show a total of 193 inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains passed through the port of Erenhot during the first half of this year, over three times the number in the same period last year.

A total of 654 China-Europe inbound and outbound freight trains passed through Manzhouli on the Russian border during the first half of this year, up 33.2 percent year on year.

“There was only one China-Europe train that passed through Erenhot each month in 2013, while now the port sees one train passing through it every day. Cargo for imports and exports expanded from daily necessities to all kinds of products such as laptops and industrial robotics,” said Liu Zongcheng, who is in charge of a foreign trade and transport agent company in Erenhot.

Inner Mongolia saw the first China-Europe freight train pass through its port in September 2013. Currently a total of 38 China-Europe train routes pass through Manzhouli and Erenhot. Inner Mongolia is now the terminus of seven China-Europe train routes.

A 8,000-km tourist train route linking Beijing and Moscow via Erenhot is also gaining popularity. Since it was launched in 2015, more than 5,000 travelers from different countries have taken the route.