This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2025 shows the train Z114/Z111, fondly referred to as "the train of migratory birds," before departure in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Yue)

　　HARBIN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- With a whistle piercing the falling snow, a train departed Harbin west station in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on a 48-hour journey to the sunny beaches of Hainan, a tropical island known for its warm climate.

　　Fondly referred to as "the train of migratory birds," the Z114/111 has been traversing China's vast landscapes since 2009, carrying numerous elderly passengers on journeys through the changing seasons.

　　"As the cold season approaches, I found myself looking forward to boarding this train," said Song Qingxiang, a 71-year-old retiree from Daqing City in Heilongjiang, who has spent his winters in Hainan for over a decade.

　　"This annual migration is not just about escaping the bitter cold," he continued. "It is a pursuit of a more comfortable and high-quality retirement life."

　　With over 90 percent of its passengers being seniors, the train doubles as a social hub, where some set up chessboards for a game, while grandmothers gather to share photos of their grandchildren or chat about everyday family life.

　　To better serve these travelers, the train's restrooms have been upgraded with handrails and emergency call devices, emergency bedpans and auxiliary toilet stools are available, and commonly used items, such as reading glasses, magnifying glasses and sewing kits, are provided in a convenient service box.