Illustration: Luo Xuan/GT

Editor's NoteChinese mainland stocks have staged an impressive rally since the start of February, reviving hopes for the stock market where bullish rallies have mostly been rare, fleeting moments in its nearly 30-year history.In the eyes of a multitude of retail investors, the backbone of the A-share market, the spectacular rebound - the key Shanghai Composite Index had surged 21.2 percent this year as of the market's close on Wednesday - seemed to be a shot in the arm. As a consequence, those who have deleted their trading apps are downloading them again, and many new stock accounts have been opened. While stock investment is essentially about capital gains and losses, narratives by some veteran investors, interviewed by the Global Times recently at two iconic trading venues in Beijing, appear to have gone beyond merely buying or selling stocks. While the majority of mainland investors now trade stocks from their smartphones, old-fashioned trading halls are easier places to sense what retail investors truly feel.In the shabby little trading hall of the China Galaxy Securities outlet in Beijing's Xicheng district, which opened in August 1990, a short man nicknamed Little Yunnan is among the few who are willing to be interviewed.I first came to Beijing in 2000 and opened a brokerage account that year. I remembered seeing crowds of people in a CITIC Securities outlet and I decided to fork out 96 yuan ($14.3) to open an account which stayed idle until 2007 because I didn't know how to trade. I began trading, thanks to a young securities employee from Sichuan who acquainted me with the basics of stock investment. I'm a day trader and normally hold a position for a couple of days at the most.I don't like to operate on my phone, as its screen is too small to picture comprehensive stock market information. My stock picks are mostly based on my own judgment from technical analysis.I spend about five to six hours every trading day hanging around the hall. I now live in Fengtai district (roughly 15 kilometers from the brokerage outlet) where the rent costs about 400 yuan per month. There's no trading hall nearby and I used to take a bus to this outlet, which I've visited on a regular basis since 2009.I'm not on a fixed-term contract and do whatever odd jobs are available after the market's close and on the weekend. I never borrow money to buy stocks. All my investments are derived from my earnings. Last month I made over 3,700 yuan and used 2,500 yuan to invest in stocks. These past few days I earned about 1,000 yuan from stock investment.Thus far, my account has overall been in the red. I don't buy lottery tickets though, which are like a bottomless pit. Stocks are different, they're always there. The Chinese economy is correlated to its stock markets. Otherwise, how could investors possibly make money? China has yet to outstrip the US in stock market terms and the US stock market has a much longer history.Identifying himself as a company employee, Song appears composed and professional, an apparent standout from a crowd of retirees at the China Galaxy Securities outlet.I'm interested in the stock market and have over five years' experience. Only once in a while would I come to the trading hall. It was not very safe to trade on the phone previously, but it's different now with phones equipped with security firewalls. I've built up large positions and made small profits recently. The market is performing much better this year than it was last year. I'm qualified to participate in the new science and technology innovation board (individual investors will need to have at least 500,000 yuan in their trading accounts). If the bull run continues, I'll increase my positions.The government has attached high importance to the stock market, supposedly a barometer of the economy. With the country aiming to grow its economy by 6-6.5 percent this year, and foreign institutions expected to be involved in prepping IPOs on the new board, among efforts to open the equity market wider to foreign investment, investor sentiment is turning bullish.Some foreign investment banks forecast the Shanghai index could climb above 3,500 points.While Chinese dama, referring to middle-age or older women, are generally considered an important force behind speculative bets ranging from gold purchases to stock investment, very few of them want to talk to the media. In the spacious trading hall of a branch of China Securities on Dongzhimen Nandajie, which opened in 1993, the brokerage's first Beijing outlet, Auntie Liu looks hale and hearty. She's the only dama in the trading hall who seriously accepts an interview with the Global Times.I had been rehired for 10 years after retirement at the age of 55. Initially, I began to learn calligraphy and singing. But I was still young at that time and soon got bored with that kind of idle life. The stock market happened to be on a bull run then and I made the decision to enter the market for some fun and have been stuck in it ever since.I don't have money worries. I have an apartment in Sanlitun and get a decent pension of nearly 8,000 yuan per month, plus an old age allowance of 200 yuan each month.I have two sons and one daughter. My daughter, living abroad, initially advised me not to make trades. She reckoned it was like gambling and could tire me out. I said to her it was fine. Otherwise I would have nothing to do at home. It's nice sitting in the trading hall and having a chat with people in there. Stock investment doesn't affect my health. My attitude is to never feel sad over losses or get overjoyed at gains. That said, I was still embittered by the market slump last year. I love technology, so I would like to invest in technology stocks. Most stocks plunged last year. It's not a big deal, as almost everyone was suffering. I was not the only one. Apparently the worst is over. I've held onto my money-losing positions and it's now proven not bad.There are patterns in the stock market which are worth researching. I'm not good at it, but I know people who have made huge profits from the market. It's risky overall. I mostly regard it as a recreational activity. Many people have opened brokerage accounts lately. I don't support young people investing in the stock market. Some addicted stock market investors are like gamblers who simply end up falling deeper into the trap. But what can young people do? Those who want to build a career here can't afford to buy a home. I would say those with a flair for investment can try, otherwise they'd better focus on their jobs.I'm not the most senior in here. There's one gentleman, aged 94, who is better than me at investing. I will quit the market if I recoup the stock-trading loss some day. I watch TV programs every morning reviewing and analyzing the market and in the evening I prefer to watch TV dramas. I also keep a close watch on information pushed by the phone. I'm a slow thinker and have to try harder. It's not easy. I missed out on the current rebound, as I was overcautious. I did spot some excellent stocks and was tempted to buy them, but I had to liquidate my losing positions first, which I couldn't bear to do. I understand something's wrong if there's affection for stocks. I feel I'll never recoup my losses so don't ask me to try. It'll put too much pressure on me.