Fire-spotter recalls hard life at lonely mountain lookout

Liu Jinguo worked as a fire-spotter on the Lesser Khingan Mountains for 12 years before a bear attack ended that part of his working life.

Every day, he had to walk at least 90 minutes up steep, rugged terrain to reach his lookout post, a 30-meter-high tower in Yichun, Heilongjiang province.

"In winter, my pants would get soaking wet in the 1-meter-deep snow on my way up the mountain. I had to carry dry cotton pants with me to replace the wet ones when I arrived," said Liu, 58.