China has opened a 288-metre outdoor elevator to improve travel for children living in a remote mountain village.
The Fuyao Ladder stands inside the Nizhu River Grand Canyon in Xuanwei, Yunnan Province.
Children from Nizhuhe village attend Guanzhai Village Primary School at the top of the mountain.
Before the transport system was introduced, the children had to walk for about three hours along steep and dangerous mountain paths.
The students attend a boarding school. They usually make the journey between their homes and school every few weeks.
Authorities opened the first cliffside elevator in 2022. The Qingyun Ladder stands 268 metres high.
It formed part of a route involving a shuttle vehicle, the elevator and a cable car. The system reduced the journey to about 30 minutes.
However, the elevator also became popular with tourists. Large crowds sometimes forced residents and students to wait for hours.
Authorities later opened the 288-metre Fuyao Ladder beside the first elevator. The second structure provides more space and moves faster.
It has a transparent glass exterior and travels at five metres per second. The journey inside the elevator reportedly takes about 50 seconds.
The two elevators can carry a combined 1,200 people per hour.
Students and local villagers can reportedly use the transport system free of charge. Tourists pay to use it.
The new elevator has increased capacity and reduced waiting times. It has also made the journey safer for children who previously depended on narrow mountain paths.
