Looking to go to London for cheap? Well, now you can stowaway on a freight train that travels over 12,000 kilometers from the manufacturing hub of Yiwu in eastern Zhejiang province all the way to the British capital. Just make sure to bring some water with you because the trip takes about 18 days.
The first freight train from Yiwu to London was launched on Sunday. It will bring China closer to its ultimate goal of being able to go everywhere in the world by train, along with promoting international trade and cooperation.
Yiwu is home to a multitude of factories that produce everything from the clothes you are wearing to the Christmas decorations you put on your tree. Trains departing from Yiwu West Railway Station will pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before finally arriving in London.
This is yet another part of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, aimed at developing trade and transport infrastructure across Asia and Europe, and revitalizing the ancient Silk Road. To fund this effort, China has set aside $40 billion.
[Images via Xinhua]
Follow Shanghaiist on WeChat