A new China-Europe freight train route linking Chongqing in southwest China to Melzo in Italy was recently launched.

The freight train, operated by the China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing), departed from Chongqing on July 9 and will first arrive in Melzo. Thereafter, it will head to Verona, a tourist city in northern Italy.

State media reported that according to the China-Europe Railway Express, the entire trip will take about 22 days.

"The train carries goods worth US$10 million, including daily necessities, clothing, household appliances, and machinery equipment, mainly from the eastern and southern regions of China," Xinhua said, quoting Qi Dan, general manager of Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd.

The China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing), launched in March 2011, now operates nearly 40 routes reaching almost 100 cities in Asia and Europe.