Photographer Chen Jie took the pictures when he witnessed 15 school children, aged between six and fifteen, scaling the cliff.

According to local authorities there was a cable transportation service available to take the children to the valley, the village which reportedly lives on less than an average of $1 a day, could not afford the electricity bills so the unused cable got dismantled.

While children used to take the trek twice a day, it’s now been ruled as too dangerous, forcing children to board at their school and only see their parents twice a month.

These photos have brought some much needed attention to the situation.

The region’s Communist party secretary has now promised a steel staircase will be built to connect the village with the outside world while a more permanent solution is discussed.