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The children, aged between six and 17 years-old, live
in Pili, a village of some 400 herders and farmers high up in the
foothills that separate China from Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
But their school lies some 120 miles away, 50 miles of which are
inaccessible to vehicles and have to be crossed on foot, or by camel.
"There is only one way to get to the village, and you have to climb up
in the mountains," said Su Qin, the head teacher at Taxkorgan Town
boarding school, where the children study. "The village is completely
cut off. The roads only take you further away," she added.
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So, four times a year, before and after the summer and winter terms, a
group of teachers sets off to escort the children on the journey. It
takes at least two days and one night of trekking, and the children
sometimes arrive at the school as much as a week after the beginning of
term.
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The most dangerous part of the route is a path, which narrows to just a
few inches wide, that has been cut into a cliff face some 1,000ft above
the valley beneath. Without safety harnesses, the teachers gingerly
shepherd their charges along.
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