YINCHUAN - The first cargo train linking Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region and Tehran, capital of Iran, began operation Tuesday.

The train left Yinchuan loaded with more than 560 tons of machinery, daily commodities, ceramics and glassware and is scheduled to reach Tehran in about 15 days travelling via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

"The train takes more than 20 days less than transporting by ship, and is expected to greatly lower our delivery costs," said Liang Hua, whose company is in charge of the operation.

According to Kong Guohua, an official from Ningxia's Department of Commerce, the new cargo route will help increase trade between China and countries in central and west Asia.