How the New Shu Road Replaced Ancient Mountain Passes with High-Speed Rail

The modern logistics route, known as the New Shu Road, serves as a vital artery for international trade, contrasting sharply with the arduous journeys described by ancient travelers like Marco Polo. Since the launch of the first Chengdu-Europe Express Rail in 2013, the network has expanded to include over 100 cities, reaching hubs as distant as Lodz, Moscow, and Izmir. By utilizing land-sea intermodal shipping and efficient rail lines, the transit time from Chengdu to major Eurasian markets has been slashed to roughly 12 to 20 days.

This infrastructure shift has turned Chengdu into a global logistics nexus. In the first half of the year, the city recorded an import and export volume of 440.67 billion yuan. The rail connection acts as a two-way conduit: Chinese new energy products and agricultural goods flow outward, while German automobiles and French wine arrive in the heart of the Sichuan Basin. Beyond local growth, the project has stimulated economic development in transit towns like Malaszewicze, Poland, turning remote border points into essential EU logistics hubs. What was once a geographic barrier has become a streamlined conveyor belt for global commerce.