WUHAN, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The first special freight train carrying oranges left Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, for Hanoi, Vietnam on Thursday.

The cold-chain train will pass through the border city of Pingxiang in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before arriving at Hanoi.

Hubei is a major orange producer. The province used to export agricultural products to Vietnam mainly through highways or by using highways and sea freight.

The cross-border transport will cost 30 percent cheaper than transport by highway and be 50 percent quicker than by sea.

The freight train used to transport wine from France and beer from Germany to Wuhan, said sources with the Wuhan Asia-Europe Logistics Co. Ltd., which is in charge of the freight train.

The freight train service between Wuhan and Hanoi will open an express route for China's agricultural products export while significantly reducing damage caused by transshipment, the sources said.