Cliffside elevator nearly 300 meters high takes students to school

A 288-meter elevator and cable car system in Nizhuhe canyon, Yunnan province, cuts students' commute from three hours to 30 minutes.

On 30/8, 13 students from Guanzhai Primary School at the bottom of Nizhuhe canyon began their new school year with a journey to school via the Fuyao elevator to the mountaintop, then transferring to a cable car.

Stepping into the new system's cabin for the first time, student Wang Jiao said, "We have a new shuttle." The elevator travels at 5 meters per second. From the glass-walled cabin, passengers can view the entire canyon below.

The 268-meter Qingyun and 288-meter Fuyao elevators on the Nizhuhe cliff, Yunnan province. *Xinhua*.

Nizhuhe village, located on the border of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, is separated from its mountaintop school by a cliff over 500 meters high. Years ago, the only path was a series of steps carved directly into the rock. Villagers had to cling to chains to climb.

Chen Guanjie, a villager with three children, stated that previously, taking children to school across the canyon took about three and a half hours. "Young children were placed in baskets and carried. On rainy days, the mountain paths were slippery, and it was often impossible to lift our feet," Chen recounted.

In 2017, a new expressway was completed, enabling local authorities to re-plan routes within the canyon. In 2022, the 268-meter Qingyun elevator and a cable car line were inaugurated, forming a free "sky bus" system for villagers. However, a surge in tourists caused the system to become overloaded during holidays.

In 10/2024, local authorities began construction of a second elevator named Fuyao, 288 meters high. On 31/7, the Fuyao elevator began operation.

The two elevators operate in parallel, increasing the total capacity to 1,200 passengers per hour. According to local authorities, this is the only cliffside elevator system in China serving both tourism and local residents.

All residents of Nizhuhe and Guanzhai villages can use these two facilities free of charge. During peak hours, a priority lane is established for students; residents transporting agricultural products off the mountain do not have to wait with tourists.

"Previously, our biggest concern was the safety of students on their way to school. Now with the elevator, they arrive on time, and teachers are also more at ease," said Tian Depu, a teacher at Guanzhai Primary School.

Improved transportation has also helped the once-isolated village at the bottom of the canyon welcome a significant number of visitors. Residents have started opening accommodation services, working as guides, and selling local specialties.

According to Cai Xiong, Chairman of the Nizhuhe Canyon Tourist Area development company, the addition of the second elevator alleviates pressure from transporting tourists while also ensuring residents' right to travel.