Xinhua selects China pictures of the year 2019

A freighter is loaded with goods at a port in Kaohsiung, southeast China's Taiwan, Jan. 19, 2019. A direct sea freight route opened on Jan. 19, 2019 between Taiwan's Kaohsiung and Pingtan in Fujian Province, drastically shortening the time of farm produce from the island entering the mainland market. The 178-nautical mile journey between the two cities will be shortened from two or three days to just nine hours after the opening of the new route. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)