On August 20, the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service marked its first anniversary with the departure of its 168th fully loaded train from Chongqing to YANTIAN in Shenzhen. The journey time has been significantly reduced—from five days to just two. Additionally, through feeder services, cargoes can reach Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing Port by the third day. Once at YANTIAN or Kwai Tsing, cargoes are distributed to over 200 countries and regions around the world. To commemorate the milestone, YANTIAN, in partnership with Hongkong International Terminals and Shenzhen Port Group, hosted a one-year anniversary celebration. Government officials and business representatives from Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong gathered to witness the achievements and explore new opportunities for integrated development between the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. The event received widespread coverage from major media outlets, including People's Daily, China National Radio, Phoenix Satellite TV, and Shenzhen TV.

01. From concept to reality in just two months: a win-win collaboration between Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong

July 2023: Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service concept first proposed
During the "2023 Hong Kong Enterprises Tour to Chongqing" event organized by the Chongqing Commerce Committee and Hong Kong Trade Development Council, YANTIAN first introduced the concept of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express.

September 2023: Trial operation successfully launched
Export-loaded containers were successfully transported by rail from Chongqing to YANTIAN, then transferred via feeders to Hong Kong, and finally shipped overseas to destinations such as Mexico and Brazil.

August 2024: Official launch of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service
The project was officially launched, realising mutual benefit and win-win outcomes for Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.

November 2024: National recognition as a model service
The Chongqing-Shenzhen Scheduled Service was included in the Exemplary Cases of Developing Container Rail-Sea Intermodal Brand Services, selected by the Ministry of Transport, the National Railway Administration, and China Railway Group as one of 12 exemplary cases across the country.

At the ceremony event, more than 100 attendees, including representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Government, Transport and Logistics Bureau of the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Shenzhen Municipal Government, the Transport Bureau of Shenzhen, Yantian District Government, port supervisory authorities in Yantian District, China United International Rail Containers Chongqing Centre, and customers and partners, gathered to jointly witness the milestone of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service celebrating its first anniversary.

Li Zhong, Secretary of the CPC Yantian District Committee
Since its launch, the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service has operated with speed, stability and efficiency thanks to strong
collaboration across the three regions. It has become a strategic logistics corridor connecting the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Greater Bay Area, facilitating deeper integration and more dynamic coordination. Yantian District has grown around the port and remains steadfast in pursuing maritime development and advancing our strengths as a port economy.

Zhang Yaxi, Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Government
Since the first run on August 20 last year from Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, the scheduled service has opened up a new, highly efficient logistics corridor connecting the three cities. Its regular operation has    made it a vital backbone of Chongqing’s multimodal transport network, forming a new link between the Chengdu-Chongqing region and the Greater Bay Area.

Song Haitao, Director of Railway Freight Department of China Railway Guangzhou Group
The stable operation of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service has strengthened economic ties between the Chengdu-Chongqing region and the Greater Bay Area, and advanced dual circulation between domestic and international markets. Looking ahead, the China Railway Guangzhou Group will continue to deepen cooperation with YANTIAN and our Hong Kong partners to increase train frequency, expand multimodal transport networks, and  accelerate digital upgrades in sea-rail logistics, delivering more robust support for export-led economic growth.

Amy Chan, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government
Yantian Port and Hong Kong Port have two natural synergies that make this collaboration a perfect match. First, YANTIAN is the only container port in Shenzhen with direct rail access, enabling cargo to be transported straight to the terminal and loaded onto barges, minimising turnaround times. Second, the two ports offer complementary maritime networks: Kwai Tsing has the highest density of routes to Asia, Africa and Latin America in South China, whileYANTIAN is known for frequent connections to Europe and North America. Together, they enable truly global reach..

Lawrence Shum, Managing Director of Hutchison Ports YANTIAN
In March this year, the Guangdong Three-Year Action Plan for High Quality, Transport Development (2025-2027) called for deeper collaboration between Yantian Port and Kwai Tsing Port. In June, China issued a document on deepening the comprehensive reform in Shenzhen, in which Article 7 specifically encourages innovation at Yantian Port in areas such as customs clearance. Once again, YANTIAN has been entrusted with leading reforms. We will continue working closely with all levels of government and our partners to deliver coordinated progress and unlock the full potential of the Yantian-Kwai Tsing partnership that connects China with the world.

02. A year of achievements: Halved transport time, reduced costs, and real benefits for enterprises

The Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service operates with a fixed model—"fixed time, fixed routes, fixed schedules, fixed pricing, and fixed train frequencies". This ensures not only reliable and stable departure times, but also cuts transportation time from Chongqing to YANTIAN in Shenzhen from 5 days to just 2. Moreover, cargoes can reach Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing Port by feeder services on the third day. Upon arrival at either YANTIAN or Kwai Tsing, cargoes are quickly transferred to international vessels for efficient delivery to over 200 countries and regions worldwide. This provides inland international trade enterprises with a stable, efficient, and green low-carbon export channel, creating a mutually beneficial framework for Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.

Since upgrading to a "scheduled service" and successfully launching last year, the service has experienced rapid growth. In 2023, freight volume surged by nearly nine times compared to the previous year, and so far this year, it has further increased by 1.6 times. This remarkable growth highlights the strong market demand and validates the effectiveness of the scheduled operational model.

Wei Weihao, Director of Ocean Freight Department (South China) of DB Schenker, remarked, "The Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service extends port services to Chongqing by rail, offering customers highly efficient and reliable logistics solutions. The stability and timeliness of rail transport have significantly enhanced supply chain efficiency, improving the overall service experience. In today's volatile geopolitical climate, logistics timeliness is critical. We must quickly respond to market changes and find better solutions to help our customers mitigate tariff impacts, while strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of their supply chains."

Peng Le, Founder and General Manager of Shenzhen Lucky Sky Logistics, commented, "The launch of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service has dramatically increased the efficiency of cargo exports from the Chengdu-Chongqing region. It not only shortens transport time significantly but also reduces logistics costs by 30%. The service has become the go-to logistics solution for high-value products such as electronics and auto parts. Since its inception, our business has seen significant growth, particularly from e-commerce customers, with double-digit quarterly growth expected. Moreover, amid ongoing trade tensions between China and the US, the service's stability and efficiency have provided a reliable solution for cross-border supply chains.

03. Connecting domestic and international markets to help enterprises adapt to and overcome challenges

YANTIAN is actively expanding its intermodal transport network by developing a comprehensive logistics system that integrates international shipping services, railway trunk lines, and feeder services. This multidimensional approach extends port services into inland regions, providing inland international trade enterprises with a one-stop, stable, and efficient logistics solution across the entire supply chain. This network enables enterprises to better adapt and navigate complex market conditions.

By July 2025, YANTIAN had established 20 inland ports, 33 rail-sea services, 15 port alliances in the Greater Bay Area, and 17 feeder services.

As one of the world's largest single container terminals, YANTIAN handles over one-third of Guangdong's international trade imports and exports and more than a quarter of China's exports to the United States. Leveraging more than 100 international shipping services, YANTIAN collaborates with various government agencies, port supervisory authorities, and shipping companies to offer high-frequency, extensive, faster, high-efficiency maritime services. Domestically, YANTIAN seamlessly connects with the national rail network and other domestic ports, while internationally, it connects with global shipping services, covering not only the Greater Bay Area but also Southwest and Central China.

04. Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation: Mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, providing stable and efficient logistics channels for inland regions

A smooth trade flow fosters vibrant economies and thriving industries. The Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service is a direct response to the Decision issued by the Third Plenary Session, which emphasizes leveraging the advantages of the "one country, two systems" policy to strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international hub for finance, shipping, and trade.

The success of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service and the Chengdu-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service is closely linked to the 31 years of feeder cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. YANTIAN has been at the forefront of promoting Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, working hand-in-hand with Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing Port to strengthen internal connectivity and external outreach. In 2024, the volume of loaded containers transported by feeder services between YANTIAN and Hong Kong increased by nearly 30% year-on-year, setting new records for both feeder traffic and total annual throughput.

Kwai Tsing Port primarily serves Asian and South American markets, boasting the largest number of Intra-Asia (120+) and South America (15) services in South China, while YANTIAN focuses on Europe and the US service, with 4 vessels heading for Europe and 6 vessels heading for the US every day.

This achievement highlights the strong mutual support and complementary strengths between YANTIAN and Hong Kong. It not only exemplifies the spirit of Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation and mutual benefit, but also provides a stable and efficient logistics channel for international trade enterprises in the Greater Bay Area and inland regions. Furthermore, it offers robust support for seamless rail-sea intermodal transportation, ensuring smooth integration into the global shipping network.

YANTIAN stays committed to supporting the efficient export of international trade cargoes, helping Shenzhen accelerate its development into a logistics hub with global influence, while bolstering Hong Kong's status as a leading international shipping and trade centre. Together, these efforts enhance the Greater Bay Area's overall international competitiveness, contributing to the nation's "dual carbon" goals and the high-quality development of international trade.

YANTIAN Rail-Sea Service Contact Information

Southwest Region: Mr. Guo
📱Phone: +86 136 3163 2302
(86 755) 2529 6406
📮Email: zhongxian.guo@pingyan.com.cn