A visitor selects beauty products at the China-Europe freight train bonded store. [Photo by Liu Boqian for chinadaily.com.cn]
A bonded store at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, Hubei province, has been receiving numerous visitors who come to shop for international products delivered by China-Europe freight trains.
Wuhan is a key hub for the route, having dispatched 342 trains this year as of October.
After carrying Chinese-made electric vehicles and solar equipment to Europe, the trains return with goods from countries along the route, which are increasingly popular among Chinese consumers.
A station staff directs the loading process at the Wuhan Railway Container Transport Center. [Photo by Liu Boqian for chinadaily.com.cn]
"Each week, Wuhan sees seven outbound and five inbound trains," said Mei Qingping, marketing manager of the Wuhan Railway Container Transport Center.
Imported goods are centralized in Wuhan, leveraging the city's rail-water intermodal transport network to distribute products at lower costs to cities along the Yangtze River.
Turkish ceramic plates displayed at the China-Europe freight train bonded store. [Photo by Liu Boqian for chinadaily.com.cn]
A traveler from Hunan, who bought two bottles of imported British coffee candies, said, "I wasn't aware of the train connection before, but it offers a wide range of imported goods at affordable prices."
Hankou's bonded store, the first in Hubei, offers 10,000 products from countries including Germany, Italy and Turkiye. Items range from food and beverages to crafts and cosmetics.
"Snacks, drinks, and beauty products sell best," said assistant project manager Li Wenyan. "Thanks to tax incentives, the prices at our stores are even more appealing."
A China-Europe freight train waits for loading at the Wuhan Railway Container Transport Center. [Photo by Liu Boqian for chinadaily.com.cn]
Pilot programs for sales on high-speed trains and at railway stations have already been launched, with daily revenue averaging 100,000 yuan ($13,800) in the province.
According to management, additional distribution hubs will be set up at Wuhan's China-Europe train assembly center, further facilitating the entry of international goods into the domestic market.
Liu Boqian contributed to this story.
