An amazing love story, worthy of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (though a little bit happier, no less romantic), has come out of China recently. It is a story of a younger man and an older woman (not Harold and Maude) who ran off to live and love each other in peace for over half century.

Over 50 years ago, Liu, was a 19 years-old boy who fell in love with a 29 year-old widowed mother named Xu. At the time, it was unacceptable and immoral for a young man to love an older woman.

In order to avoid market gossip and the scrutinizing comment from friends and family, the couple decided to elope and lived in a cave in Jiangjin County in Southern ChongQing area.

Xu and Liu's Cave

In the beginning, they had nothing, no electricity or even food. They had to eat grass and roots they found in the mountain. Life was harsh, at first, and Xu believed that she had tied Liu down, so she would repeatedly ask him “Are you regretful?” and Liu would always reply “As long as we are industrious, life will improve.”

Liu’s industry started the second year of living in the mountain, he began, and continue for over 50 years, to hand carve steps so that his wife could get down the mountain easily.

Love Ladder

A half century later in 2001, a group of adventures were exploring the forest, surprisingly they found the elderly couple living in the cave, which was their home, and the over 6,000 stairs of hand carved ladder.

“My parents loved each other so much, they have lived in seclusion for over 50 years and never been apart a single day.” Liu MingSheng, one of their seven children said, “He hand carved more than 6,000 steps over the years for my mother’s convenience, although she doesn’t go down the mountain that much. It’s a ladder of love.”

6000 Stairs

After their story was released, the Chinese government decided to run electricity to the cave. At the awards ceremony their son accepted on their behalf, they were not present due to their age, and he brought with him one of the kerosene lamps his father had made from an ink bottle.

“My parents have lived in seclusion for more than 50 years because of their love for each other. They had no electricity and my father made kerosene lamps to lighten our lives,” he said.

The couple had lived in peace for over 50 years until last week. Liu, now 72 years-old, returned from his daily farm work and collapsed. Xu sat and prayed with her husband as he passed away in her arms.

Xu and Liu

So in love with Xu, was Liu, that no one was able to release the grip he had on his wife’s hand, even after he had passed away.

“You promised me you’ll take care of me, you’ll always be with me until the day I died, now you left before me, how am I going to live without you?” … …

Xu spent days softly repeating this sentence and touching her husband’s black coffin with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Xu and Liu before Liu died

In 2006, their story had became one of the top 10 love stories from China, collected by the Chinese Women Weekly. The local government has decided to preserve the “love ladder” and the place they lived as a museum, so this love story can live forever.

This article was comprised of information and writing provided by www.weirdasiannews.com Images are courtesy of www.weirdasiannews.com