The house where Liu Shenjia lives is the only decent one in the village.(Photo/Xinhua)

There once was a community of more than 20 households in Jingshan County of northwest China's Gansu province. Due to a harsh climate and poor crop yield, it was not an easy place to live. In 2006, all the residents moved out except for Liu Shengjia and his family. At that time, Liu was taking care of his bed-ridden mother and brother. After his mother and brother died, Liu became the last remaining person in the community.

"At first, I was disturbed by the barking of wild dogs and I could not fall asleep at night. Later, I began to raise a few sheep, and they have kept me company ever since. Gradually, I have become used to living alone," said Liu. 

"One night four years ago, I was lying on my bed while it rained hard outside. Suddenly, the weight of the water from the massive downpour caused the back wall of my house to collapse," Liu recalled. After that, Liu moved to another house. 

All these years, Liu has had to go down the mountain to get water and food. Liu occupies a slim patch of arable land. He lives on the money he gets from selling two or three sheep a year and a monthly salary of just over 700 yuan from his job as a temporary ranger.

Thanks to his own efforts and assistance from relatives, Liu can survive. However, he does miss living together with other people.

Liu Shengjia feeds his sheep.(Photo/Xinhua)