<div dir="ltr"><div><div><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2309526/Thats-to-class-The-terrifying-climb-Chinese-schoolchildren-young-forced-scale-sheer-cliffs-to-school.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2309526/Thats-to-class-The-terrifying-climb-Chinese-schoolchildren-young-forced-scale-sheer-cliffs-to-school.html</a></div>
</div><div><br></div><div><h1 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;font-size:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:left">That's one to get to the top of the class… The terrifying climb of Chinese schoolchildren as young as five forced to scale sheer cliffs to get to school</h1>
<ul style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left;font-weight:bold"><li style="padding:0px;margin:0px;list-style:none"><font style="font-size:1.4em">Mountain-top village of only 100 residents is cut off from the outside world, apart from ladders leading to valley below</font></li>
<li style="padding:0px;margin:0px;list-style:none"><font style="font-size:1.4em">Brave schoolchildren use the wooden ladders with no safety precautions to get to school every day</font></li><li style="padding:0px;margin:0px;list-style:none">
<font style="font-size:1.4em">Five-year-old Liu Dan explained: 'It's quite high but I try not to look down'</font></li></ul><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
By <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Olivia+Williams" class="" rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,53,128);text-transform:uppercase">OLIVIA WILLIAMS</a></p>
<p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em"><strong>PUBLISHED:</strong> 19:13 GMT, 15 April 2013 </span>| <span class="" style="font-size:0.9em"><strong>UPDATED:</strong> 12:56 GMT, 16 April 2013</span></p>
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<font style="font-size:1.2em">These schoolchildren in southern China are so keen to get to school that they make the perilous journey on narrow wooden ladders every day, with no safety precautions.</font><br></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
<font style="font-size:1.2em">Their village in the remote Badagong mountains in Sangzhi county is surrounded by sheer drops on every side, making the school run a daily struggle.</font><br></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
<font style="font-size:1.2em">The only way out of Zhang Jiawan village, unless the children have time for a four-hour cross country detour, is via a series of rickety-looking ladders leading down to the valley below.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><b><font style="font-size:1.2em">Scroll down for video</font></b></p><div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px!important;min-height:0px!important;clear:both;width:auto;height:0px!important;line-height:0!important;font-size:0px!important;float:none!important;border:0px!important;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:left">
</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-0-194F887B000005DC-166_964x918.jpg" width="964" height="918" alt="Children climb the ladders to get to school in Hunan province, China" class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
Terrifying: Children clamber down these unsecured ladders to get to school in Hunan province, China</p></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
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</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-0-194F8890000005DC-422_964x586.jpg" width="964" height="586" alt="This little girl balances her three bags leaving her only one hand to scale the mountain to get to school " class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
Precarious: This little girl balances her three bags leaving her only one hand to scale the mountain to get to school</p></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
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</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-0-194F88F6000005DC-108_964x499.jpg" width="964" height="499" alt="Staff at the school face a difficult commute to work on the enormous wooden ladders " class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
Uphill struggle: Staff at the school face a difficult commute to work on the enormous wooden ladders</p></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
<font style="font-size:1.2em">Their anxious parents have no choice but to let them use the ladders if they want to get an education. <br></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
<font style="font-size:1.2em">So when youngsters like five-year-old Liu Dan start school at the nearest town, the first thing they have to learn is how to climb.</font></p><div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
 </div><div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><h4 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;font-size:1em">More...</h4>
<ul style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px"><li style="padding:0px;margin:0px;list-style:none"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2309361/Photographer-Kevin-Cooley-produces-incredible-pictures-light-trails-planes-blaze-night.html" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,53,128)">Highways in the sky: Photographer produces incredible pictures of light trails as planes blaze through the night</a></li>
<li style="padding:0px;margin:0px;list-style:none"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2309342/Adorable-pictures-Jenna-Bush-Hagers-daughter-Mila-George-W-Laura-celebrate-arrival-grandchild.html" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,53,128)">It's baby Bush! Adorable pictures of Jenna's daughter Mila as 'elated' George W and Laura celebrate arrival of first grandchild</a></li>
</ul></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
<font style="font-size:1.2em">'In centuries past these mountains were a fortress for the villagers. The land is good and the farms thrive but it is hard to get in and out,' said one local.</font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
<font style="font-size:1.2em">Liu admitted: 'It's quite high but I try not to look down.'</font> </p><center style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px"><div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
<a name="video" class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,53,128)"></a><div class="" style="margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;font-size:1.2em"><div id="rcpv2273385532001" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;width:636px">
<div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;height:358px;background-color:rgb(0,0,0);width:636px"><a id="ext-gen2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,53,128)"><div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;background-color:black;width:636px;height:26px">
</div><div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(245,245,245);font-size:18px">Chinese children climb ladders to get home from school</div><div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;background-color:rgb(0,77,179);height:85px;width:85px;border-top-left-radius:6px;border-top-right-radius:6px;border-bottom-right-radius:6px;border-bottom-left-radius:6px">
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<img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/16/video-undefined-1952FD71000005DC-923_290x163.jpg" class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; width: auto; max-width: 636px; height: 358px; "></center></a></div>
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</div></div></div></div></div></center><div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px!important;min-height:0px!important;clear:both;width:auto;height:0px!important;line-height:0!important;font-size:0px!important;float:none!important;border:0px!important;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:left">
</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-2309526-194F8A01000005DC-981_964x723.jpg" width="964" height="723" alt="Staff prepare to climb up behind the boy on the narrow ladders" class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
Steady as they go: Staff hold the narrow ladders steady for the next person to gingerly come down after them</p></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
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</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-2309526-194F8864000005DC-918_964x702.jpg" width="964" height="702" alt="A schoolgirl holds the ladder for others to come up safely behind her " class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
Team work: A schoolgirl tries to help by holding it steady while she prepares to go next</p></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
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</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-2309526-194F88DA000005DC-15_964x684.jpg" width="964" height="684" alt="5-year-old Yu Xinxin, who climbs the ladders to school every day, before she sets off on her long morning journey" class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
At home: 5-year-old Yu Xinxin, who climbs the ladders to school every day, reading before she sets off on her long morning journey</p></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
</p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><font style="font-size:1.2em">'My parents showed me how to do it safely and now I don't think too much about how high it is,' she added.</font><br>
</p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><font style="font-size:1.2em">Villagers have asked local officials to supply a road down to the valley so that these children do not have to risk their lilves.</font><br>
</p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><font style="font-size:1.2em">However, the road over the difficult terrain would cost nearly £10 million so residents are not getting their hopes up that it will happen any time soon.</font><br>
</p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><font style="font-size:1.2em">'There are fewer than 100 people living there. It would be cheaper to buy them all helicopters,' said one.</font></p>
<div class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px!important;min-height:0px!important;clear:both;width:auto;height:0px!important;line-height:0!important;font-size:0px!important;float:none!important;border:0px!important;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:left">
</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-2309526-194F8AC2000005DC-618_964x539.jpg" width="964" height="539" alt="Yu Xinxin's morning routine is just like any other schoolgirl's until she leaves home to make the dangerous journey up the mountain " class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
Preparations: Yu Xinxin's morning routine is just like any other schoolgirl's until she leaves home to make the dangerous journey down the mountain</p></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
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</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-2309526-194F88B2000005DC-686_964x543.jpg" width="964" height="543" alt=" The village at the bottom of the steep mountains where the children set off from every day" class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
Isolated: The village in the steep mountains where the children set off from every day to go to the valley below</p></div><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left">
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</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/15/article-2309526-194F89D1000005DC-383_964x484.jpg" width="964" height="484" alt=" Yu Qiyun, who uses the ladders every day, at home with his family" class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid black; "><p class="" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px">
Daunting prospect: Yu Qiyun, who uses the ladders every day, at home with his family</p></div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left"><br><br></span></div><div>
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