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NAVIGATORSEA LAND

Corridors & Network

China Land Bridge

The overland gateway from China's manufacturing centres into Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and onward to Russia and Europe.

Request a QuoteAll Corridors
Route
China → Khorgos / Altynkol or Dostyk / Alashankou → Kazakhstan → Uzbekistan / Kyrgyzstan / Russia / Europe
Best for
Containers, BESS, industrial equipment, consumer goods from China
Border points & gateways
Khorgos / AltynkolDostyk / AlashankouNur Zholy (road)Bakhty (road)Saryagash (to Uzbekistan)
Transit time
Transit-time ranges are published for each corridor only after internal validation, because corridor performance changes frequently. Ask us for the current range for your routing.
Navigator Sea Land corridor network mapSchematic map of Eurasia from Europe to eastern China showing the freight corridors Navigator Sea Land operates, with offices in Almaty and Atyrau. China Land Bridge: Shanghai – Xi'an – Lianyungang – Urumqi – Khorgos / Altynkol – Almaty – Saryagash – Tashkent – Dostyk / Alashankou – Astana. Middle Corridor (TITR): Xi'an – Urumqi – Dostyk / Alashankou – Astana – Aktau – Kuryk – Baku / Alat – Tbilisi – Poti / Batumi – Istanbul – Europe – Mersin. INSTC: Mundra / Nhava Sheva – Bandar Abbas – Jebel Ali – Tehran – Anzali – Aktau – Turkmenbashi – Bolashak – Atyrau. Caspian Sea: Aktau – Baku / Alat – Kuryk – Turkmenbashi – Atyrau – Tengiz. Europe & Türkiye: Europe – Istanbul – Tbilisi – Baku / Alat – Poti / Batumi – Astana. Air links: Europe to Almaty and Jebel Ali to Atyrau.Caspian SeaBlack SeaPersian Gulf / Arabian SeaMediterraneanAlmatyAtyrauAstanaAktauKurykTengizBolashakSaryagashTashkentBishkekKhorgos / AltynkolDostyk / AlashankouBaku / AlatTurkmenbashiAnzaliTehranTbilisiPoti / BatumiIstanbulMersinEuropeUrumqiXi'anLianyungangTianjinShanghaiMundra / Nhava ShevaBandar AbbasJebel Ali
  • Rail
  • Road
  • Sea / Caspian
  • Air (dashed)
  • Office
  • Port
  • Border crossing

The Route

Most project equipment, BESS containers and industrial goods manufactured in China enter Central Asia by rail or road through two Kazakh gateways: Khorgos / Altynkol in the south, close to Almaty, and Dostyk / Alashankou further north. From either, cargo continues by the 1,520 mm CIS rail network to Almaty, Astana and the western regions, crosses into Uzbekistan at Saryagash, or joins the northern network towards Russia and Europe.

Both gateways are gauge-change points: cargo moves from China's 1,435 mm standard gauge to the 1,520 mm gauge used across the former Soviet network. Containers are transshipped between wagons; conventional and out-of-gauge cargo is re-loaded and re-secured, then approved against a different loading-gauge profile. We supervise that transfer rather than leave it to the terminal.

Suitable Cargo

Containers

20' and 40' FCL and LCL, block trains and ISO tanks from Lianyungang, Xi'an, Urumqi, Yiwu and Shanghai.

BESS & renewables

Class 9 lithium battery containers, inverters, PV modules and substation equipment, with dangerous-goods documentation for rail.

Industrial & OOG

Machinery and oversized components on flat and well wagons with railway-approved loading schemes, or by road via Nur Zholy and Bakhty.

Documentation

  • SMGS consignment note for the CIS rail leg; Chinese rail waybill or CIM/SMGS through document where available.
  • ETSNG / GNG cargo coding, and railway loading-scheme approval for out-of-gauge pieces.
  • Transit and import declarations under the EAEU Customs Code; certificates of conformity (EAEU TR) where required.
  • Dangerous-goods documentation to SMGS Annex 2 for BESS and chemical cargo.

Advantages and Constraints

China Land Bridge advantages and constraints
AdvantagesConstraints
Shortest overland route from China into Central Asia; faster than ocean via the Gulf or Caspian.Gauge change at the border: every piece is transshipped, so terminal capacity and wagon supply set the pace.
Two gateways give routing flexibility when one is congested.Seasonal congestion and Chinese export peaks affect wagon availability and dwell times.
Direct connections to Almaty, Tashkent, Astana and the northern network.OOG pieces need loading-gauge approval on both railways, with lead time that must be planned in.

Services and Industries on This Corridor

Have a cargo others call impossible?

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