Cities building rail links to Europe

As China builds a new Silk Road economic belt, more than a half-dozen cities are competing for goods and investment from multinationals to boost rail operations to Europe.

With shorter transport times and lower freight costs, international rail lines linking western and central China to Europe have helped improve regional connectivity and trade.

Since 2010, major Chinese cities, including Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Zhengzhou and Wuhan have all launched weekly or monthly modern block train services to different European destinations. It's part of China's efforts to turn its inland resource and labor-rich cities into international trade hubs.