It has been one year since the first Sino-Europe train departed from Guangzhou to Vorsino, Russia on Aug 28, 2016.

In that time, Guangzhou has become another city in China that is operating regular Sino-Europe trains following Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Suzhou and Yiwu. The train makes it ways from Guangzhou, passing through Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia and Zabaikalsky in Russia, before arriving at its final destination of Vorsino in northwest Russia.

"The average journey time is about 25 days faster than by sea, taking between 15 and 18 days. It is also 30 percent cheaper than air transportation," said Huang Zhongxi, general manager of Guangzhou Dashunfa International Logistics. He added that the train has significantly reduced the cost and time in doing business with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.  

"The train sets off once a week and is often between 90 percent and 100 percent full," Huang said.

During the past year, a total of 43 trains have set off from Guangzhou to Vorsino, carrying 17,000 tons of goods worth $236 million to Russia's market.