China's first high‑speed intermodal train links southern Xinjiang with the Yangtze River Delta
When new routes connect remote regions with global markets, distance ceases to be a barrier to development. The new high‑speed train from Aksu to the Ningbo‑Zhoushan port is not just a logistics solution but an economic bridge linking Xinjiang's cotton fields with global trade. Halving transit time and cutting container costs by more than 20% open up new export opportunities for the region that were previously out of reach due to geographical constraints.
On Monday, the first high‑speed intermodal train in China departed from Aksu, connecting southern Xinjiang in the northwest with the Yangtze River Delta in the east. The train, loaded with cotton fabrics and other local products, will pass through six provinces and regions before reaching the Ningbo‑Zhoushan port on the eastern coast. Operating on a seamless "no container reloading, no cargo transshipment" model, the service cuts transit time from more than 10 days to about five days and reduces logistics costs by more than 20 percent per standard container. Aksu produces more than 90 percent of China's long‑staple cotton, with an annual output of about 100,000 tonnes of high‑quality fibre. However, geographical limitations previously forced more than 90 percent of its products to be exported westward through Central Asia. The new rail route provides southern Xinjiang's cotton products with stable and efficient access to global markets via the eastern coast.
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is China's largest cotton producer. In 2025, the region's total cotton output reached 5.4 million tonnes, accounting for more than 90 percent of national production. Aksu, as the main centre for long‑staple cotton cultivation, supplies more than 90 percent of this premium variety in the country. The new logistics route not only cuts delivery time and costs but also gives the region direct access to Asia‑Pacific markets through China's largest eastern port. As CCTV+ reports. Regular services on this route are expected to significantly boost southern Xinjiang's export potential and serve as an important step in developing transport infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative.
