Merchants from India purchase Christmas items in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, in July. [SHI KUANBING/FOR CHINA DAILY]

On Dec 22–23, a media tour went to an important hub of China's Belt and Road Initiative and gave the visitors from Afghanistan, Namibia, Mexico, Pakistan, Tanzania, the United States, and Vietnam a look at how products are sent overseas by rail, sea, and air.

The first stop was to the relatively small city of Yiwu, Zhejiang province, which is known for having the world's largest market for small products as well as producing around two-thirds of the world's Christmas décor. Yiwu has attracted numerous foreign residents, who have found it easier to acclimate to their new environment by living in international communities like Jimingshan.

Jimingshan International Neighborhood is unique in that it is where 1,388 foreigners from 74 countries call home. The community has responded by making life easier for these residents by providing information and services related to settling in, such as organizing a way for the residents to mediate their disputes and provide feedback. The city is like few others because you'll find foreigners not only behind the counter of coffee shops but even behind the wheel of a hired ride.

Also in Yiwu, the media tour visited the starting point of a rail line going all the way to Madrid, delivering shipments along the way. The tour stopped at the world's busiest port in Zhoushan to see how containers are loaded on to ships for sea transport and then visited Hangzhou to see the airmail facility used for Alibaba orders.

Whether by air, land, or sea, these neighboring cities in Zhejiang province play a huge part in how the world gets its Christmas presents.