CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- With a resonant blast of its horn, the Minxiang B521E cargo ship, fully loaded with 292 containers of export goods, slowly departed from Guoyuan Port in Liangjiang New Area. Since the Chongqing-Shanghai Direct Express Line began trial operations, this vessel has made 74 round trips between Shanghai and Chongqing.

As a key logistics channel for Chongqing's international trade, the Yangtze River serves as the lifeblood of the city’s foreign cargo transportation. In just the first half of this year, the Chongqing-Shanghai Direct Express Line completed 530 voyages, significantly boosting the effectiveness of the Yangtze River Golden Waterway.

The inaugural voyage of the Chongqing-Shanghai Direct Express Line set sail on May 29, 2019. Chongqing Port Customs, in collaboration with Shanghai Customs, implemented the "departure confirmation" model, which streamlined the process for river-sea transfer of customs goods between Shanghai and Chongqing. This innovation transformed the workflow from a time-consuming ‘serial operation,’ where each step was a prerequisite for the next, into a more efficient ‘parallel operation,’ where multiple tasks are completed simultaneously.

This two-way simplification of customs procedures and cargo handling has reduced the operational time for imported goods at Shanghai Port by approximately 48 hours and shortened the reallocation time for individual shipments on river vessels by about 70%. Over the past five years, this express line has evolved into a reliable, fast water transport corridor connecting Chongqing Port, Taicang Port (Shanghai Port Zhenghe Terminal), and Shanghai Port (including Waigaoqiao and Yangshan Port Areas).

As of the end of July this year, the Chongqing-Shanghai Direct Express Line has completed 5,523 voyages, transporting 1.3908 million TEUs of import and export goods. The average downstream journey (from Chongqing to Shanghai) now takes 11 days, while the upstream journey (from Shanghai to Chongqing) averages 15.8 days—a reduction of over 40% compared to the pre-express line period.

“The launch of the Chongqing-Shanghai Direct Express Line has enhanced cargo distribution and service capabilities in the Yangtze River basin, attracting more shipments from the upper reaches of the Yangtze to converge in Chongqing and unlocking further potential of the Yangtze River Golden Waterway,” said Fang Liang, business director of Chongqing Guoyuan Container Terminal Co., Ltd.

In addition, Liangjiang New Area has collaborated with departments such as Chongqing Customs to strengthen ties with ports in Sichuan, extending the Chongqing-Shanghai Direct Express Line to Sichuan and reducing the ‘water-to-water transfer’ time by about two days. The Sichuan-Chongqing-Shanghai foreign trade container express line now departs from Yibin Port and reaches Shanghai Port in just 12 days.

Moving forward, Liangjiang New Area will continue to support the regular operation of the Chongqing-Shanghai Direct Express Line, further improve the multimodal transport system, and actively promote the integration of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, the China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing), and the Chongqing-Guangzhou Sea-Rail Combined Transport Liner with the Yangtze River Golden Waterway. These initiatives will strengthen Guoyuan Port's role as a major channel, platform, and hub, positioning Chongqing as a crucial strategic point in the new era of western development and a comprehensive inland hub of openness. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)