With a population of merely 253 people, most of whom are of the Yi ethnic group, Abuluoha had long suffered from poverty and poor transport infrastructure due to the rugged mountainous terrain.

The only dirt road stretching along the cliff were in terrible condition, and the roughness and steepness of the way acted as a deterrent. From the village to the nearest Wuyi township, they had to climb a steep cliff with a height of nearly 2,000 meters and more than 70 degrees along a path less than 1 meter wide.