"Dagu is both a nature reserve and scenic area. That means we undertake environmental protection and poverty alleviation," the scenic spot's head Wen Dingqing says.

"Economic development is based on ecological protection. The environment comes first in our efforts to strike a balance."

Today, 37 workers form five patrol groups responsible for monitoring wildlife and wildfires.

The scenic area has invested about 39 million yuan ($5.9 million) in such realms of environmental protection as replanting deforested areas.

They've also made it clear to locals that poaching and woodcutting are illegal.

Heishui County's tourism industry brought in about 1.45 billion yuan in 2016, official data shows.

Dagu's tourism has brought prosperity to Heishui, a previously underdeveloped community inhabited by such ethnic groups as Tibetans and Hui.

Endengdorl works for Dagu's patrol station and lives in a village in the scenic area.

The Dagu glacier range offers extreme experiences that go above and beyond in every sense. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

The 30-year-old's family moved from the mountainside to a traditional-style two-story home in the foothills in 2008.

"It's more convenient," he says.

"But my mother sometimes returns to our old house just to clean up and enjoy the scenery."

They used to get water from a spring by bucket. They now enjoy water that flows from the tap in their home.

The elderly, sick and disabled can visit the village's clinic.

Endengdorl recalls having to climb mountains to reach school.

Today, his 7-year-old son attends boarding school in the county seat, and his daughter attends a nearby kindergarten.

Indeed, the natural conditions remain as extreme as ever. But people－the residents or visitors－are enjoying Dagu more than ever.