The Ulaanqab-Manzhouli-Moscow China-Europe Express Railway debuts on Oct 16. [Photo/WeChat Account of Ulaanqab Cloud]

A freight train carrying 55 containers of electrical appliances departed from the Qisumu International Railway Logistics Center in Ulaanqab, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Oct 16, marking the inaugural journey of the city's eastbound China-Europe Express Railway.

The train is destined for Selyatino Station in Moscow, Russia, via the Manzhouli port in eastern Inner Mongolia and signifies the opening of a new export channel for Ulaanqab's China-Europe freight train services.

Ulaanqab has been designated as a key railway hub for the China-Europe Express Railway network according to national development plans and policies. It is among the first 23 cities selected for construction into a national logistics hub.

The Ulaanqab-Manzhouli-Moscow China-Europe Express Railway debuts on Oct 16. [Photo/WeChat Account of Ulaanqab Cloud]

Since the launch of its first China-Europe Express Railway in 2016, Ulaanqab has expanded its reach to eight countries, including Russia and Belarus.

The city now operates routes to 18 cities such as Moscow, Yekaterinburg, and Almaty, with a total of 22 international routes.

As of Oct 16, Ulaanqab has dispatched 806 trains comprising 33,055 containers, with a total cargo value of $1.53 billion and a total weight of 504,800 metric tons.

In recent years, Inner Mongolia has prioritized the development of the China-Europe Express Railway, aiming to play a significant role in the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and serve as a pivotal gateway for China's northern opening-up, according to a regional official.

Efforts are concentrated on building Ulaanqab into a central hub for China-Europe Express Railway distribution.