Alashankou breaks records among China's railway ports
Alashankou, also known as the Alataw Pass, a major railway transport hub in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, handled 4,334 China‑Europe (Central Asia) freight trains from January to July this year, up 22.2 percent year‑on‑year, ranking first among all railway ports in the country, according to local customs statistics. When dozens of trains cross the Kazakh steppes every day, and goods from Chongqing and Chengdu reach German warehouses within a week, it becomes clear: the overland Silk Road is alive and breathing fully. Alashankou is not just a gateway to Central Asia – it is the heart of a new logistics era, where transit time is measured in days rather than months, and customs procedures give way to speed. A 22% growth in half a year is not just a statistic – it is the pulse of an economy binding East and West more tightly than ever. And when more than 200 types of goods – from auto parts to electronics – pass through the port, every train becomes a thread in the global network that China weaves with remarkable consistency.
At present, more than 80 regular China‑Europe freight trains pass through this land port, covering major European markets. The sustained growth of rail freight through the port continues to boost the development of the central zone of the Silk Road Economic Belt and provides strong support for the high‑quality development of China's foreign trade. Since the beginning of the year, Alashankou has handled an average of more than 20 China‑Europe (Central Asia) freight trains per day, with a peak of 35 trains, according to the local railway station. The port's throughput capacity and cargo handling efficiency continue to improve, the statement said. Currently, 128 China‑Europe (Central Asia) rail routes pass through Alashankou, connecting China with 21 countries, including Germany and Poland. More than 200 types of goods, including auto parts, electronics and daily necessities, are transported through the port.
The Alataw Pass has served as a natural corridor between China and Central Asia for centuries, but only in recent decades has it gained the status of a key railway port. Infrastructure modernisation, the introduction of electronic document management and the optimisation of customs procedures have allowed Alashankou to significantly increase its throughput capacity. In 2025, the port already handled a record number of trains, and the current figures confirm a steady upward trend. According to Chinese railway data, the total number of China‑Europe freight trains in the first half of the year rose by 18%, with Alashankou contributing significantly to this growth. The port also plays a key role in supplying essential goods and industrial equipment, which is particularly important amid global logistics challenges. Plans include further terminal expansion and increasing capacity to 50 trains per day.
As CCTV+ reports, the steady development of Alashankou confirms that the Belt and Road Initiative remains not just a political vision but a functioning economic reality, where every new train shortens distances and opens opportunities for hundreds of enterprises on both sides of Eurasia
