On the way to China (V): Lodz, Poland

In 2011, the China-Europe freight train service went into operation. Faster than a ship and cheaper than a plane, it ushered in a new era for rail freight, and the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative two years later put it on a fast track to development. Seen as a "Belt and Road on rails," the service gave a new energy to the efforts to revive the ancient Silk Road trading route.

Poland is a major transportation hub in Europe. Freight from European countries such as Britain, Germany, and Italy is usually transferred onto China-bound trains in Lodz, which is the third-largest city in Poland.

Local dairy manufacturers say they are eager to ship their products to China using the freight rail service. China is one of the largest importers of Polish dairy products outside the European Union. Producers who hope to make the switch from sea to rail transportation say the time it takes for their goods to arrive in China will fall from nearly two months to just two weeks, allowing Chinese consumers to enjoy fresher dairy products.