Steel-bar ladders are under construction on the cliff of Atuleer village in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture of Sichuan Province. (Photo/Beijing News)
(ECNS) -- A small, remote village that made world headlines for using a chain of 17 rattan ladders for access to the outside world has started installing steel-bar equivalents, reported the Beijing News.
Atuleer village in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture of Sichuan Province has no road connection.
A local Party chief said the renovation started on Aug. 27 and will finish in a month. According to the plan, reinforced steel ladders will be built along the originals, which will be preserved as the region looks for opportunities in tourism.
Most of the village's 72 families live in meager homes made of mud, thatch and wood. They use ladders to access the outside world when they need to buy necessities or sell local specialties.
Every two weeks, 15 students have to use the series of ladders that line an 800-meter-high cliff to return to their homes in the village, 1,400 meters above sea level.
Villagers said the trek takes about two hours going up and 90 minutes to get down.
