The first direct rail freight service from the UK to China departed from Essex on Monday. A train with 30 containers filled with British-produced exports began the 7,500-mile journey from the DP World London Gateway rail terminal in Stanford-le-Hope.
Whisky, soft drinks, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and baby products are among the exports.
The freight train will pass through the Channel Tunnel to France and on to Belgium before calling at Duisburg, Germany. InterRail will then pull the cargo through Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazahkstan before arriving at Yiwu, eastern China on April 27.
The departure was almost three months after the first freight service from China to the UK arrived in east London.