Wang Xintong is looking through the window on Train K4186 on Jan.15, 2017. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

FUZHOU/CHONGQING -- Eight-year-old Wang Xintong is the daughter of migrant workers Wang Xiangquan, 36, and Yu Gaifen, who have been working in Fuqing, east China's Fujian Province, 2,000 kilometers away from their ancestral home in Yunlong Town, eastern Chongqing, southwest China.

On Jan.13, about half a month away from the Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan.28 this year, little Xintong got up at 5 a.m.. She was too excited to fall asleep because she was about to go home later in the day.

Xintong and her parents are waiting to board a bus to the train station Jan. 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Xintong and her parents arrive at the Fuzhou train station on Jan. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

It was Xintong's first train travel after her parents took her to Fujian five years ago.

Her curiosity about the travel soon faded away as the train was very crowded and not very comfortable. However, she seemed to have plenty of patience.

Xintong is playing with other kids onboard Train K4186 on Jan. 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Xintong had instant noodles every meal in the train. To prepare the noodles, Wang Xiangquan, her dad, had to wade through the crowd to fetch hot water.

Xintong is doing her homework in Train K4186 on Jan. 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

When asked why she was so excited to go back home, Xintong said she had many friends back home, but not in Fujian.

"I feel so lonely because there's no one to play with me, " she said.

The Wang family moved several times in Fuqing City, leaving Xiaotong no time to get familiar with other children. Both parents have little time to accompany her, according to Yu Gaifen, Xintong's mother.

Photo taken on Jan. 15, 2017 shows Xintong walking in front of her village home in Yunlong Township, Chongqing. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

On finishing the 26-hour train journey, the second day, the Wang family changed to another train in Dazhou, Sichuan Province, Saturday night, which brought them to the ancestral home in Yunlong Township, Chongqing Municipality. They finally reached home Sunday morning after 40 hours' ride.

Xintong is putting food into the bowl of her grandma, Jan. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

There are many "left-behind" children when their parents move to work in cities. Xintong mother Yu Gaifen has chosen not to leave Xintong with her grandparents.

"I can't leave her behind. As long as we three stay together, I would feel content, even though we don't have much money," Yu said.

Photo taken on Jan. 15, 2017 shows Xintong, her parents and grandparents posing for a family portrait. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Xintong is attending a public elementary school in Fuqing City, where more than 1/4 of students are from migrant workers' families. Her parents and grandparents are all hoping Xintong to study well and settle down in cities.