An aerial drone photo shows a CRE train loaded with imports crossing the China-Russia Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye cross-border railway bridge en route to Tongjiang North Railway Station in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 16, 2025. (Xinhua)
Have you ever imagined a day when a China Railway Express (CRE) train rolls into the heartland of Eurasia, not only carrying goods but also facilitating cultural exchange, as it traverses mountains and rivers to bridge hearts separated by vast distances?
At 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 2025, the "China-Central Asia International Cultural Tourism Train" slowly departed from the ancient city of Xi'an under bright sunshine. The train body was adorned with the golden hues of the "Silk Road Golden Bridge," and the windows reflected the expectant smiles of the passengers. It headed all the way west toward Almaty.
More than just a train, it was a "mobile drawing room." Throughout the journey, activities like traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experiences, handicraft making, and calligraphy and painting sessions were organized. Performances including choral singing and Chinese folk music were also held. The grand cultural feast captivated the passengers so much that the long journey felt short.
The event site of the Xi'an-Almaty Cultural and Tourism Exchange Week. (Screenshot from Xinhua Video)
Two days later, the train arrived in Almaty, where the China-Kazakhstan culture and tourism exchange week began. Diverse activities including intangible cultural heritage displays, cultural relics exhibitions, sports interactions, TCM promotion and archaeology lectures built a bridge of heart-to-heart connectivity between the people of the two countries.
According to Kazakhstan's Inbusiness website, the train journey demonstrated the two countries' commitment to expanding cultural exchange and reflected their aspiration for practical cooperation in the tourism sector.
An exhibition of China's folk art on the China-Central Asia International Cultural Tourism Train departing from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, for Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Screenshot from Xinhua Video)
"We are committed to creating a warm, comfortable and culturally rich environment for travelers. We want to turn the special train into a 'mobile calling card' for Shaanxi's opening up to the world and a 'Silk Road Express' that boosts people-to-people bonds between China and Central Asian countries," said Hui Lixia, deputy director of the passenger transport department at China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd.
Passengers arrive at Almaty, Kazakhstan by the China-Central Asia International Cultural Tourism Train departing from Xi'an. (Screenshot from Xinhua Video)
In early June, the train returned. This 3,600-kilometer journey fostered mutual understanding between civilizations.
On March 1, 2024, a special CRE train departed from the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu for France. It carried 41 Eastern art treasures to participate in the exhibition "A life by the river: the art of Chen Jialing" in Paris, a tribute to the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.
As the exhibits were traditional Chinese paintings and porcelain, there were stringent requirements regarding both safety and timeliness. Organizers ultimately chose the CRE service from Yiwu as the mode of transport, stating that "the CRE provides an excellent solution for domestic artworks to travel abroad."
Twenty days later, the artworks arrived safely in Paris and were unveiled to the French public. Benoit Guidée, director for Asia at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, gazed at the works and said, "They evoke my deep memories of the areas south of the Yangtze River for me." He also sincerely wished for a lasting friendship between China and France.
The services of the CRE have evolved from providing dedicated trains for large manufacturing enterprises to becoming a "portal of memory" catering to small and micro enterprises, cross-border e-commerce platforms, and even individuals, shifting its focus from national narratives to everyday stories.
It was reported that the first individual to enjoy the CRE train's customized service was a new immigrant moving from Wuhan to settle in the Netherlands. He used the train to transport personal belongings like his wedding photos, curtains and children's toys to Europe. These items, filled with personal life memories, arrived safely at their destination after a journey of over two weeks.
The true spirit of the Silk Road has never been solely about the flow of goods; it is also about the transmission of culture and mutual interdependence.
Around 700 years ago, camel bells rang out in the golden sunset as Marco Polo's caravan trudged through the sand, with the camels' broad humps laden with marvelous accounts written on parchment. As today's "steel camel caravan" once again shuttles across the Eurasian continent, it continues this epic story, which began with hoofbeats and camel bells and is jointly penned by countless pioneers. (By Chen Yu and Gu Shanshan)
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