China Exclusive: Farewell to zip lines in China's deep mountains

"Flying doctors" in southwest China's Yunnan Province crossed the Nujiang River along a rickety zip line for nearly 30 years.

The zip line in Lamadi Village, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture had no safety apparatus, not even a life jacket.

"Check the pulley and don't look back," doctor Deng Qiandui recalled.

Elsewhere across the world, zip lining is popular with thrill seekers. However, in some villages perched on mountainsides in China's western areas, it is the quickest link to civilization.

Three years ago the local government built a bridge across the river's deep ravine, making trips in to town much easier -- and safer.

In his government work report delivered earlier this month, Premier Li Keqiang pledged to replace all zip lines with bridges this year.

According to a national plan, from 2013 to 2015, about 290 bridges will be built in seven western provinces, half of them in Yunnan, benefiting 958,000 residents.

Nujiang prefecture has three vast rivers, to meet Li's deadline, local authorities have nine months to finish building 17 bridges, a massive task, even without taking into consideration that all the materials must be carried along the zip lines.

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Deng, who is one of the lawmakers attending the country's parliamentary session, said that zip lining was especially dangerous at night.

"Even with a flashlight, I could not see anything," he said.

The bridges have changed locals' lives and invigorated the local economy.

The elderly were often too scared to use the zip line and when the new bridge was built they were able to live fuller and more liberated lives.

In addition, improved transportation links have eased the transportation of construction materials, resulting in about a third of the area's households building new homes.

Thanks to the bridge, villager You Zaodui built a two-storey home at a cost of 60,000 yuan, compared to around 80,000 yuan previously, in only six months.

In addition, the booming economy has also created jobs. Another villager, Lu Eryi, who used to be a farmer said he now earns "much much more" in his new job as a truck driver.

Transportation infrastructure was identified as a crucial aspect of China's long term poverty alleviation campaign. In his government work report, the premier said the rural poor population would be reduced by 10 million this year, with 200,000 kilometers of rural roads built or upgraded during the same period.

The world's most populous country, which aims to eradicate poverty by 2020, still has 70 million people living under the poor line in rural areas. Endi