Children have fun in a poverty-relief resettlement site in Xia'ao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2020. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainous areas knew nothing about the outside world. They often played around in shabby clothes, without a kindergarten to go to. When they reached school age, they had to trek hours to atten

Zhang Meixiang and her children pose for a photo at the front door of their new house inside a poverty-relief resettlement site in Xia'ao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2020. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainous areas knew nothing about the outside world. They often played around in shabby clothes, without a kindergarten

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 18, 2020 shows a view of a poverty-relief resettlement site in Dongmiao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows a view of a poverty-relief resettlement site in Sanzhiyang Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainous areas knew nothing about the outside world.

In this combo photo, the upper taken by Lu Boan on Oct. 11, 2017 shows an aerial view of a residential cluster in Longyatun, a hamlet in Jianliang Village, and the lower taken by Cao Yiming on Aug. 19, 2020 shows an aerial view of a poverty-relief resettlement site that many villagers previously living in Longyatun have moved into, in Sanzhiyang Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a

In this combo photo, the upper taken on Oct. 11, 2017 shows Yu Wanhe standing in front of his former residence in Jianliang Village, and the lower taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows Yu walking out of his new house inside a poverty-relief resettlement site, in Sanzhiyang Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainou

In this combo photo, the upper taken by Lu Boan on Oct. 11, 2017 shows Liao Zhenyi walking downstairs outside his former residence in Jianliang Village, and the lower taken by Cao Yiming on Aug. 19, 2020 shows Liao and his children strolling in a poverty-relief resettlement site, in Sanzhiyang Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too cr

In this combo photo, the upper taken on Oct. 12, 2017 shows Yuan Chaoqiang and his wife Luo Lanxiang standing in the kitchen of their former residence in Jiaba Village, and the lower taken on Aug. 18, 2020 shows the couple cleaning the kitchen of their new house inside a poverty-relief resettlement site, in Xia'ao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy con

Yuan Chaoqiang and his family stroll in a poverty-relief resettlement site in Xia'ao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2020. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainous areas knew nothing about the outside world. They often played around in shabby clothes, without a kindergarten to go to. When they reached school age, they had to

Children have fun in a poverty-relief resettlement site in Xia'ao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2020. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainous areas knew nothing about the outside world. They often played around in shabby clothes, without a kindergarten to go to. When they reached school age, they had to trek hours to atten

In this combo photo, the upper taken on Oct. 12, 2017 shows Yuan Chaoqiang and his wife Luo Lanxiang sitting on the stairs to the front door of their former residence in Jiaba Village, and the lower taken on Aug. 18, 2020 shows the couple and their daughter Yuan Xinyao posing for a photo in front of their new house inside a poverty-relief resettlement site, in Xia'ao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 18, 2020 shows a view of a poverty-relief resettlement site in Dongmiao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainous areas knew nothing about the outside world. They often played around in shabby clothes, without a kindergarten to go to. When they reached school age, they had to t

Children have fun in a poverty-relief resettlement site in Xia'ao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2020. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainous areas knew nothing about the outside world. They often played around in shabby clothes, without a kindergarten to go to. When they reached school age, they had to trek hours to atten

In this combo photo, the upper taken on Feb. 10, 2017 shows Wei Aiwen (2nd L) and her family sitting at the front door of their former residence in Santuan Village, and the lower taken with a drone on Aug. 18, 2020 shows part of a residential block where Wei and her granddaughter Meng Huan stand on the balcony of their new house inside a poverty-relief resettlement site, in Dongmiao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, vi

In this combo photo, the upper taken on Oct. 11, 2017 shows Liao Zhenyi standing on the second floor of his former residence in Jianliang Village, and the lower taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows Liao and his children posing for a photo in front of their new house inside a poverty-relief resettlement site, in Sanzhiyang Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy con

Meng Huan (R), granddaughter of Wei Aiwen, and her cousin Wei Yuyan have fun in the new house inside a poverty-relief resettlement site in Dongmiao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2020. Du'an Yao Autonomous County is known as the "rocky kingdom," as 89 percent of its lands are covered by karst mountains. Suffering from rocky desertification, Du'an has low agricultural yields. This, coupled with poor transportation, makes it one of the most impoverished counties in Guangxi. Locals used to live deep in bare rock mountains without paved roads, tap water or electricity. They had to grow corn and rear livestock to sustain a meager living. Since the long and bumpy journeys to the nearest hospital were costly, villagers were not even willing to see a doctor unless their healthy conditions became too critical. Kids in the mountainous areas knew nothing about the outside world. They often played around in shabby clothes, without a ki