Yunnan cliffside elevators reduce student commute in China

Students living in the Nizhuhe canyon in Yunnan Province, China, have seen their school commute drastically reduced thanks to a new cliffside transportation system. Previously, children had to navigate a dangerous, steep path known locally as the ‘lizard road’ to reach Guanzhai Primary School, which sits over 500 meters above their village. This trek often took more than three hours and was particularly hazardous during rainy weather due to slippery conditions and potential rockfalls.

The new system, referred to by locals as an ‘aerial school bus,’ utilizes two elevators named Qingyun and Fuyao built into the steep cliffs, combined with a cable car system. Students now travel via shuttle vehicle, take the vertical elevators, and then use the cable car to reach the mountain top. This new route has shortened the travel time from over three hours to approximately 30 minutes.