A railway platform is usually a place for people to say good-bye, but for a couple who only meet approximately twice a year the narrow pathway along the railway tracks is a spot to reunite in the lead-up to Spring Festival, if only for 30 minutes.

Frontier soldier Pan Ding hugs his wife Lei Yun, a railway attendant at the platform of Guangzhou East Railway Station. [Photo/Xinhua]

Pan Ding, a frontier soldier in Guangdong Province, and his wife Lei Yun, a train attendant, were married in January. But due to peak travel conditions ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year, they were both back at work to help serve the millions of people headed home for the holiday. The newlyweds didn't even have one day for a honeymoon.

However, winter weather and transport logistics conspired to create a chance meeting for the pair. Authorities were forced to transfer more trains to Guangzhou after snowfall in other areas left tens of thousands of passengers stranded in the city. This also allowed Lei Yun, who served on the temporary train connecting Chongqing and Guangzhou to meet with her husband.

After finishing his duty on February 3, Pan Ding rushed to Guangzhou East Railway Station, a 30 kilometer journey, to meet his wife Lei.

Pan couldn't hold back his tears after seeing his wife walk from the train.

"Over the past six years, we meet only about once every six months, and most of our contact with each other is by mobile phone and WeChat," said Pan.

"We don't regret it. Because of mutual support and understanding, our relationship has survived until today," he added.

Pan brought a red scarf as a gift for his wife. In just 30 minutes, the train was ready to depart and Lei had to say good-bye to her husband, who followed the moving train, waving to Lei.

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