As the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush—a time-honored tradition that sees millions of journeys across China—gradually winds down, it offers a poignant moment to reflect on the transformative impact of the country's railway development on the lives of millions. Among them is Liu Wei, a 23-year-old man whose life story is deeply intertwined with the rails that have shaped his past, present, and future.

Born and raised in Xiwei Village, a small settlement nestled in the mountains of Fengcheng City, northeastern China's Liaoning Province, Liu's early life revolved around the slow-moving trains that chugged through the region. These green slow trains were more than just a mode of transportation; they were a lifeline for Liu and his family. During his school days, Liu relied on these trains to commute to school, carrying his dreams of a better future in his backpack. The rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the tracks became a familiar soundtrack to his journey toward knowledge.