Eight hours after we set out from Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province, and after traveling along dark and winding mountainous roads for more than two hours, we finally arrived near Cizhu village in Bijie at about 9 pm on Thursday.

Guided by several local publicity officials, whom we met near the entrance of the village, we arrived at the three-story house where four children once lived.

The children, ages 5 to 13 and left alone in their home to take care of themselves, died at home after consuming insecticide on Tuesday evening.