GUANGZHOU - China on Thursday launched its first regular freight train service linking its southern province of Guangdong and Germany.

The first train, carrying furniture, home appliances and machinery, left Dongguan on Thursday afternoon and will pass through Russia, Belarus and Poland before reaching Duisburg in Germany.

The journey of more than 13,000 kilometers will take 19 days, 15 days shorter than sea freight, said a spokesperson with the Guangzhou Railway Corporation.

Guangdong is the leading Chinese province for foreign trade, with its exports accounting for about 30 percent of the national total.

The new line will see trains set out from Dongguan every Thursday.