Coast guards stand on a ferry near a dock of Huanghua Port in north China's Hebei province, Aug. 18, 2010. The port, used to serve for shipping of coal in north China, was upgraded to a comprehensive port and started to provide services besides coal shipping on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gong Zhihong)

SHIJIAZHUANG: China's Huanghua Port, in Bohai Bay of north China's Hebei province, opened Wednesday after being significantly upgraded, according to a spokesperson with the provincial government. "Huanghua Port, previously the second largest port for coal in China, has been turned into a multi-functional one, as well as raising transportation efficiency in terms of both time and money," said Huang Jianhua, president of Hebei Port Group Co., Ltd.

The first phase of the project, put into operation on Wednesday, includes a sea channel capable of taking 100,000-ton ships, and a berthing area not only for ships carrying coal but also bulk-cargo ships and oil tankers. The initial investment is 12.7 billion yuan (about 1.87 billion U.S. dollars).

"It will reshape the Asia-Europe land-bridge by shortening the route by 500 km," Huang Jianhua said.

The land-bridge, a transportation route linking ports in Europe to ones in Asia, is the cheapest and fastest Eurasian land rail route at present.

Before Huanghua Port was upgraded, the route started from east China's coastal city of Lianyungang and finished at Rotterdam--stretching 10,870 kilometers.

With the new starting point at Huanghua Port, transportation expenses would be cut and time saved, said Qian Yongchang, chairman of the China Communication and Transportation Association.

Two soldiers guard on the dock of Huanghua Port in north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 18, 2010. The port, used to serve for shipping of coal in north China, was upgraded to a comprehensive port and started to provide services besides coal shipping on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gong Zhihong)

Soldiers patrol on a dock of Huanghua Port in north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 18, 2010. The port, used to serve for shipping of coal in north China, was upgraded to a comprehensive port and started to provide services besides coal shipping on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gong Zhihong)

Editor: Li Jing

Source: Xinhua