From three hours to just 30 minutes — a newly opened 288-meter cliff elevator in Xuanwei, southwest China’s Yunnan, serves as a “cloud shuttle” for transporting students in valley villages to cliff-top schools.

Nizhuhe Village is a small hamlet nestled in a deep valley carved by the Nizhu River meandering from south to north. In the past, the villagers’ shortest route from the valley floor to the mountaintop was a perilous cliffside path, a journey that took nearly six hours for a round trip. Children and their parents living here had to make this arduous trek at least once every ten days.

This undated file photo shows children of Nizhuhe Village climbing a cliffside path on their way to school in Puli Township, Xuanwei City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. PHOTO: XINHUA

A local scenic area along the Nizhu River was officially completed and began operations. A 288-meter-high sightseeing elevator and a cable car system were put into use, offering free access to the villagers of Nizhuhe and nearby areas. This provided the children with a direct “cloud shuttle” to the mountaintop.

Students from Nizhuhe Village prepare to take a sightseeing elevator on their way to school in Puli Township, Xuanwei City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. PHOTO: XINHUA

Nowadays, thanks to the sightseeing shuttle vehicles, elevator and cable cars of the scenic spot, the children’s journey to school was shortened to just half an hour.