Before the train ran, it took more than six hours to finish the journey through a combination of buses and trains. Now the direct, 135-kilometer line takes just 90 minutes.

Even though a national highway built in 2010 gave students another option to get to Alihe, many still choose to take the train, considering it a rite of passage.

“My parents planned to drive me to Alihe, but I refused,” said He Zhixin, an Oroqen student from Dayangshu's No 2 High School. “Maybe it will be the last time I can be together with my classmates and teachers. I hope to keep the journey as one of the most unforgettable memories of my life."

The route has carried about 30,000 students over the past 16 years, according to China Railway Harbin Group, which operates the service.

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