A China-Europe freight train carrying 84 TEUs of goods left the Rizhao Port in East China's Shandong province on Nov 28, bound for Moscow, capital of Russia.

It marked the start of Rizhao's third direct international freight train route, which stretches for 9,900 kilometers and will take 15 days.

The train will travel through Manzhouli, a city in Inner Mongolia autonomous region that borders Russia and Mongolia.

The goods, transported by sea from Guangzhou and Shenzhen, were transferred to the train in Rizhao Port.

According to a spokesman for the Rizhao Port, the train is scheduled to run once every two weeks during the trail operation period, and will increase to one journey every week after some time.

This year the Rizhao Port has opened nine new domestic freight train routes in addition to the international route.

The Rizhao Port will further the construction of Belt and Road Initiative and advance the transformation from old growth drivers to new ones, build it into a world-class port and contribute to Rizhao's innovative development strategy.

The freight train, heads for Moscow from the Rizhao Port in Shandong province, on Nov 28. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Staffs pose for a photo before departure of the China-Europe freight train in Rizhao Port, East China's Shandong province, Nov 28. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The China-Europe freight train departs the Rizhao Port in East China's Shandong province on Nov 28 for Moscow, capital of Russia. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The launch ceremony for the China-Europe freight train from Rizhao Port to Moscow is held on Nov 28. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]