The number of direct freight trains between China and Europe has been on a rise in recent years, buoyed mostly by policy support under the "Belt and Road" (B&R) initiative to rejuvenate the ancient Silk Road that connects the Eurasian region. But even as the rail links have improved significantly, shippers are struggling to find sufficient cargo to generate a profit.

The number of China-Europe cargo trains reached 5,000 as of Wednesday, after a train carrying everything from clothes to auto parts to electronics embarked on a two-week journey from Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan Province to Hamburg, Germany, State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Thursday.

Since the first direct train linking Southwest China's Chongqing to Duisburg, Germany was launched in March 2011, there have been 52 routes established between 32 Chinese cities and 32 cities in 12 European countries, according to the CCTV report.