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Perched 1,000 meters above ground in Sichuan Province’s Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, the village of Atulie’er was once known for its dizzying isolation. For generations, residents relied on a rickety rattan ladder to scale the cliffside—a dangerous lifeline to the outside world. Even after a steel ladder replaced it in 2016, the journey remained grueling, taking hours to complete.
A Leap into the Future
In 2020, the village’s story took a dramatic turn. All residents moved to modern housing in a nearby county seat, swapping cliffside homes for stable infrastructure and better opportunities. But the village’s legacy didn’t end there. The abandoned cliffside settlement has now become an agricultural hub, cultivating local specialties like herbs and honey.
Livestreams and New Dreams
Today, villagers are harnessing the power of social media and e-commerce. Against the backdrop of the iconic steel ladder, they livestream their harvests, sharing their culture and products with a global audience. This tech-savvy pivot has turned their history of hardship into a symbol of resilience and innovation.
\"We’re no longer defined by the cliff,\" said one resident. \"Now, we’re reaching the world through our phones.\"
