Students take safer route for new year

Two days before the start of the weeklong Yi lunar new year holiday, students from a remote village in Sichuan province returned home on Saturday.

But unlike previous years, they had a much safer way of getting home - climbing a steel ladder instead of old rickety rattan ladders.

"The steel ladder has reduced the time it takes to return home by more than an hour. It's much safer, and I no longer feel scared," said Mose Niuniu, a 6-year-old student.