At 6 AM on June 5, a cold-chain train carrying fresh litchis from Maoming, a city rich in litchis in Guangdong province, departed from Guangzhou Baiyun Station. Four and a half hours later, the litchis arrived in Wuhan, Hubei Province, allowing consumers in the central region to soon obtain fresh litchis.
It's the first cold-chain logistics high-speed train for fresh litchis this year, as litchis in Guangdong have entered the harvest season.
"Freshly picked litchis can be delivered from Maoming to store shelves in Wuhan in as little as 24 hours—over three times faster than conventional road transport, with a spoilage rate kept under 5%," said a representative from China Railway Express.
Maoming, known as "China's Litchi Capital," produces nearly a quarter of the nation's total output. While litchis have entered their harvest season, they are prone to rotting during transportation. To tackle the freshness challenge, China Railway Guangzhou Group and China Railway Express have built a full-chain logistics system. This includes cold-chain land transport from the source, a triple-layer package (cardboard box, foam container, and insulated bag), and onboard smart sensors for temperature and humidity monitoring, all managed by a professional team.
From June 5 to 22, two dedicated litchi trains will depart daily, transporting over 8 tons per day. Shipments to central provincial capitals can be completed the same day they are dispatched.
In addition, through a model combining livestream e-commerce and high-speed logistics, farmers participating in livestream sales can ship orders via High-Speed Railway Express, ensuring litchis reach major cities across China within 48 hours.
Reporter: Dai Bosi
Photo: China Railway Guangzhou Group
Editor: Ouyang Yan, Hu Nan, James, Shen He
