A "Revival of Tea Road" Culture and Trade Center and Kyakhta Liaison Office opened in Pingyao county, North China's Shanxi province, on Feb 18.

Developed between 1689 and 1929, the ancient China-Mongolia-Russia Tea Road was an international trade route pioneered by the legendary Shanxi merchants. The 13,000-kilometer route linked more than 200 cities across China, Mongolia, and Russia, and even extended to Europe.

Pingyao in North China's Shanxi province and Kyakhta in Russia are both important trading cities on the route, with trade between the two helping to develop a multitude of links.

The "Revival of Tea Road" Culture and Trade Center is expected to promote both the culture and industrial development of the China-Mongolia-Russia Tea Road, as well as advance cultural and economic ties between China and Russia.

With the new culture and trade center, the two sides will together develop the Tea Valley of China in Pingyao, and further trade in farm produce, education, medicine, cultural products and tourism, as well as expand trade volume.

An opening ceremony for the "Revival of Tea Road" Culture and Trade Center and Kyakhta Liaison Office in Pingyao takes place in Pingyao county, Feb 18. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

Representatives of Pingyao county and Kyakhta exchange gifts at the ceremony, Feb 18. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]