Metropolis making all the right connections to develop transport

Zhengzhou received 170 million domestic and international tourist visits in 2024, with tourism revenue exceeding 200 billion yuan ($27.47 billion). Its total import and export value reached 556.58 billion yuan. Zhengzhou achieved such success because of its unique geographical advantages and rich transportation infrastructure.

Zhengzhou is located in the north-central part of Henan province, on the middle and lower plains of the Yellow River. It is often referred to as the "Center of Heaven and Earth". Its central location makes Zhengzhou a natural junction connecting southern and northern areas, as well as the eastern coastal cities and western inland cities.

Over the centuries, Zhengzhou has been a hub for the exchange of goods and culture, laying the foundation for its modern status as a major transportation hub. In March 2013, the State Council approved the establishment of a comprehensive experimental zone for the airport economy in Henan: the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, or ZAEZ. The ZAEZ's "Four Silk Roads" and "Four-Port Linkage" systems play a crucial role in its development and contribute to the achievements of Zhengzhou city today.

The "Four Silk Roads" are the Air Silk Road, the Land Silk Road, the Maritime Silk Road and the Online Silk Road. For the Air Silk Road, the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "dual-hub" cooperation model has enhanced passenger and cargo handling capacities. In 2024, Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport handled 28.5 million passengers and 825,000 metric tons of cargo and mail, a record in cargo and mail throughput.

The "Land Silk Road" includes railways and highways. The Transport International Router, or TIR, a global cross-border transit system based on United Nations conventions, has operated for two years. It improves customs clearance efficiency by simplifying procedures, assisting, and securing multilateral trade and international transportation. The ZAEZ TIR has established 17 direct transport routes to eight countries, including Russia.

For the "Online Silk Road", Zhengzhou has established the Zhengzhou Xinzheng Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the China (Zhengzhou) Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone to speed up the development of e-business and international trade.

Regarding the "Maritime Silk Road", the project is currently in the research stage, with efforts underway to create an inland port and establish links with other "Silk Roads".

With the "Four Skill Roads", the ZAEZ is promoting a "Four-Port Linkage" focused on air, railway, highway and sea for developing the modern logistics system.

The "air port" plans to build five runways, four terminals, three cargo areas, two general transport centers and one satellite hall, aiming to achieve a 100 million passenger throughput and 5 million metric ton cargo and mail throughput by 2035.

The international land port will complete construction of the China-Europe railway express assembly center and put it into use in May 2025. It is expected to have the capacity for 10,000 shipments and 10 million tons of cargo by 2035.

The new multimodal transportation combining the China-Europe railway express and TIR will create new international logistics corridors. In terms of the seaport development, Zhengzhou plans to leverage the Jialu River to develop a Grade IV waterway, establishing Zhengzhou Port along the route.