The story appears on

Page A6

November 13, 2012

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » Opinion » Press Notes

'Love Ladder' plan a mockery of true love

CHONGQING Municipality plans to invest 2.6 billion yuan (US$416 million) to build a tourism site and giant "Love Ladder" where China's so-called greatest modern love story took place.

Xu Chaoqing and her husband Liu Guojiang eloped to live in a cave in the mid-1950s to escape public condemnation of their love: Xu was a widow and 10 years older than Liu. Liu spent the next 50 years carving more than 6,000 steps into the mountain, which became known as the "Love Ladder." Xu, who was 87 years old, died on October 30, three years after her husband.

Local authorities ignore the fact that the couple were virtually driven from their homes and had no choice but to take refuge on the remote mountain.

The government's actions amount to a "spiritual hijacking" that tramples on the couples' devotion and the renovated "Love Ladder" is a disgrace.

People visit the site to pay their respects to the lovers' devotion, rather than to simply enjoy the landscapes. The large-scale "Love Ladder" will obscure the original view and displease visitors.

It's just business in the view of many officials. For them what really matters is personal gain.



 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend