Containers are loaded onto the first China-Europe freight train runs directly between Nanning and Kazakhstan. [Photo by Chen Zhibin/Nanguo Morning]

The first China-Europe freight train to run directly between Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Kazakhstan, departed from Nanning on July 27 to become Guangxi's first direct China-Europe freight train to Kazakhstan for heavy machinery.

The train, loaded with tower cranes in 50 40-foot containers, is expected to travel 4,662 kilometers and arrive in Nursultan and Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan after 11 days of travel.

Compared with the older methods that required trains transporting cargo from Nanning to Nursultan to transit in Xi'an in Shaanxi province, the new direct route is 369 km shorter and can reduce travel time by two days for companies.

"We exported tower cranes to Kazakhstan on tine in March this year, bringing considerable economic benefits to our company, and now more time and cost can be saved, making our products more competitive in the global market," said Weng Ruanchun, general manager of Guangxi Construction Engineering Group Construction Machinery Manufacturing, who's in charge of exporting the cargo.

The China-Europe freight train to Kazakhstan for heavy machinery is scheduled to run once a month to further promote products from Guangxi around the world.