FILE: Zhaojue County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, southwest China - 2016(exact date unknown)

1. Various of people climbing on steep mountain cliff without safety harnesses

Zhaojue County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, southwest China - Feb 7, 2017
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2. Steel stairs on mountain

3. Various of steel stairs made with rebar
UPSOUND(Chinese) local official(with his hand pointing at steel stairs):
"This is the longest section of the steel stairs, a total of 105 steps.We drove rebars like this into the rock to make the stairs [safer]."
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4. Aerial shots of people climbing steel stairs
5. Aerial shot of steel stairs

6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) villager (no name given)(ending with shot 7):
"Before, it was dangerous. Now we have the stairs, so we are all relieved, the old and the young. The journey is safer and we are confident in shaking off poverty."
7. Aerial shot of steel stairs
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) villager (no name given)(starting from shot 7):
"This year, my goal is to have pigs, sheep and chickens. And I also plan to plant oval oranges. I will have 100 oval orange trees and I can sell them to tourists. I can earn at least 20,000 yuan a year. This is my goal after we have tourists."
9. Village on cliff top
10. Various of villagers, children, livestock

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11. Aerial shot of village on cliff top

The future of a village atop a cliff is looking brighter for its residents after local authorities installed steel ladders last year for a safer climb.

In a remote part of southwest China's Sichuan Province, the village of Atuleer in Zhaojue County garnered fame after pictures surfaced showing the 800-meter ascent schoolchildren and the other villagers had to make to reach it. They had to risk their lives every day as they made the trek without any safety support.

However, their lives changed last August, when the local government raised one million yuan to build a set of steel stairs into the face of the cliff, replacing the bamboo ladder. The stairs are wide enough for two people to pass at the same time.

Residents seem optimistic about the improved transport infrastructure in changing their isolated and impoverished village.

"Before, it was dangerous. Now we have the stairs, so we are all relieved, the old and the young. The journey is safer and we are confident in shaking off poverty," said a villager, who, along with the others, belongs to the Yi ethnic minority.

The local government notes that many people are interested in the unique scenery and folk culture of the cliff-top village, and have already begun implementing measures to promote tourism.

"This year, my goal is to have pigs, sheep and chickens. And I also plan to plant oval oranges. I will have 100 oval orange trees and I can sell them to tourists. I can earn at least 20,000 yuan a year. This is my goal after we have tourists," said another villager.