The steel ladder is constructed with 6,000 steel pipes, equal in weight to about 120 tons. [Photo/VCG]

After discussing the situation with another teacher, they classified the youngsters into two groups, teaching the younger ones to play games and to learn pinyin - the system for writing Chinese with the Roman alphabet - and teaching the older ones to read and learn simple math.

After one year, the kids can now speak Mandarin and have become more open and confident.

Her parents at first opposed her decision due to the tough and arduous living conditions. But Jiwu said, "The kids need us so badly. If I don't stay here, who will?”

Fortunately, things began to change after a new steel ladder with handrails was built in November.

The new ladder has cut travel time down the cliff to two hours and made the villagers'daily commute less risky. Mobile phone and broadband services also have become available in the cliff village.