First train of “Zheng He” international sea-road-rail shipping departs from Yunnan

The first freight train of China's newly launched "Zheng He" Sea-Road-Rail international service departed from Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province on Friday, loaded with 26 containers of local specialty products.

After arriving in Vientiane, Laos via the China-Laos Railway, the new multimodal service will transport goods bound for Thailand, Singapore and Bangladesh via three separate routes.

The launch of the service marks the creation of the first route from Kunming to Chattogram, Bangladesh. The route will bypass the Strait of Malacca, cutting the transport distance by one-third and the travel time by half to just 18 days.

Moreover, the total integration of sea, road and rail into a single service vastly simplifies shipping procedures, with no unpacking or transshipment during the entire journey, providing a faster and more cost-effective pathway for Chinese goods to reach overseas markets.

The multimodal service is named after Chinese explorer Zheng He (1371-1433), who, over an extraordinary span of 28 years, embarked on seven epic voyages and commanded a fleet that reached distant shores as far as Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and even East Africa.

First train of "Zheng He" international sea-road-rail shipping departs from Yunnan

Nearly 20,000 visitors have toured a Chinese naval fleet, led by China's first domestically built aircraft carrier Shandong, during the first two days of its open event in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The aircraft carrier, leading a formation of three other vessels, entered the Victoria Harbour on Thursday morning, beginning a five-day visit to Hong Kong.

On Saturday, the naval fleet opened to the whole Hong Kong public, drawing constant streams of visitors eager to tour the massive warships.

Across the open exhibition areas aboard the aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels, professional guides deliver detailed introduction to visitors. The naval officers and sailors also prepared specially designed interactive and creative activities to enhance the public experience.

Inside the Shandong aircraft carrier's hangar, visitors were drawn to a display of advanced firearms, excited to have the rare opportunity for a close-up glimpse of these cutting-edge weapons.

"Seeing it myself is truly rewarding.

I knew the Shandong aircraft carrier is huge, but I had no idea just how massive it really is. Being here now gives me that concrete sense of scale. It's incredible," said a visitor.

"For Hong Kong citizens, such a visit is truly thrilling because tickets were so hard to get.

It makes us feel the strength of our nation," said another visitor.

From Friday to Sunday, the aircraft carrier Shandong is anchored at Victoria Harbour's western basin, while the missile destroyer Zhanjiang and frigate Yuncheng are docked at Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base, open to the public for tours, military experience activities, and national defense education lectures.

"It's truly thrilling to see our nation's most advanced military assets in person -- only then do I fully appreciate their awe-inspiring scale. I am so proud of our country. With such capabilities, we will no longer fear a bully," said a young student.

"I'm in the 80s and glad to have this chance to see the naval fleet in person.

I need to witness China's greatness firsthand. Our nation builds these warships. Seeing China grow stronger every day truly makes me proud to be a Chinese," said another Hong Kong resident.

This is the first public opening of the Shandong.

When the massive aircraft carrier slowly entered Victoria Harbour on Thursday, more than 700 officers and sailors posed the four Chinese characters for "secure country, sweet home" on its flight deck.

"Over the years, our aircraft carrier fleet has expanded its operations further into distant waters, while steadily enhancing combat readiness. This visit to Hong Kong and the interactions with local residents have deepened my sense of responsibility and purpose. Only a strong military can safeguard our nation, and only a secure nation can protect our homes.

We have the confidence and capability to defend our maritime borders and ensure our country's security and stability," said Zheng Ziqian, a crew member of the Shandong.

Chinese naval fleet attracts nearly 20,000 visitors during open event in Hong Kong

References

1. ^ First train of "Zheng He" international sea-road-rail shipping departs from Yunnan (image.bastillepost.com)
2. ^ Chinese naval fleet attracts nearly 20,000 visitors during open event in Hong Kong (image.bastillepost.com)