Travelers from around the world are now visiting the village, which has created demand for tour guides who can speak English, Liu says, so he set up a night school to teach English to the guides in the village.

The first course of English classes lasted six months, and Liu says he sensed that villagers became increasingly enthusiastic students. When the course ended, eager young villagers often approached Liu, anxious to know when the next course would begin.

In tackling poverty, Liu says, education is paramount.

"I realize that as an individual I don't have a lot of power to improve local education, but succeed or fail, I want to give it a go."

When Shi Zhichun returned to the village three years ago after university studies he returned as somewhat of a hero, the first villager to have gained a master's degree, in law at Jishou University in Hunan in 2017. In fact, it had been the village's connection with the targeted poverty alleviation policy that had inspired him to do his law degree, he says, and on his return he was determined to put his legal expertise to work for his fellow villagers.

"I decided to do law because our village is remote and villagers lack any legal awareness. I'd like to change their mindset and way of solving problems."