3) Stairway to Heaven
A true story of 1950s happened in Chongqing, China. A 20-year old villager Liu Guojiang fell in love for a widow, Xu ZhaoQing who is 10years older than him. In order to avoid gossips from other villagers, they eloped to Jiangjin, a town 1500metres above sea level, deep in the woods, build a home of their own.
Liu Guojiang spent 50 years alone, chipping over 20 over chisels to carve 6000 over steps of stairway for his wife. This extra ordinary kind gesture of love is to facilitate his wife daily ascending and descending from their mountain habitat.
They live off their life in the forest by picking wild walnuts, dates and have a few vegetable farms. The couple raise 7 children with whatever they have and spent half a century living in the mountains.
In 2006, media make a shooting of the 6000 steps and couldn’t find a single moss on the stairway. They discovered that Liu Guojiang clean up the moss daily so that his wife will not slip and fall along the steps.
Unfortunately, in 2007, the 72-year old Liu Guojiang died of cerebrovascular disease. The sudden death left his wife, Xu Zhaoqing devastated and despondent. Due to her failing health, one of her son relocated her from the mountains. She remained forlorn and passed on few days ago at the age of 87.
Xu Zhaoqing left a note before her death that she wanted to be buried next to her beloved husband, as she wish to continue walking hand in hand with her husband on their Love Ladder in another world.
Well, I guess the loving couple wouldn’t mind though the Stairways in Heaven are now clogged with moss.
AddGrainOnEarth 
November 10, 2012 at 2:24 am
What a beautiful and touching story. Thank you so much for sharing it!
November 10, 2012 at 10:53 am
you are welcome! Jeanette:)
November 10, 2012 at 2:36 am
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story.
November 10, 2012 at 10:54 am
you are welcome! Keith 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 2:54 am
What a wonderful story. Thank you.
November 10, 2012 at 10:55 am
yes, it is truly touching story! thanks, cheers!
November 10, 2012 at 3:01 am
Beautiful and heart warming! Love it!
November 10, 2012 at 10:57 am
And I wish they are holding hands and strolling on the cloud now, thanks for stopping by Sandra 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 3:09 am
Sydney-
This is an incredibly lovely story. Thank you for posting. I am sending it on to my family.
November 10, 2012 at 10:59 am
You are welcome Cindy! that is why love can never die! see you!
November 10, 2012 at 3:25 am
A very moving story and what a marvelous achievement. Their children must be very proud of them
November 10, 2012 at 11:04 am
that is why they were being nominated for one of the most inspire people in 2006. thanks Mary,cheers!
November 10, 2012 at 3:27 am
Pure beauty. Thank you
November 10, 2012 at 11:05 am
yes, is really beautiful, Fantelius, I totally agree with you!
November 10, 2012 at 3:40 am
Reblogged this on 问号叹号 and commented:
True love did exist. Might not happen to everyone, but story like this did enlighten my dull life.
November 10, 2012 at 11:11 am
Hey, thanks for reblogging! yes! true love really exist, this article make me realize the beauty side of human, is so pure and noble! and thanks for stopping by, have a good weekend!
November 10, 2012 at 3:51 am
Good weekend.
Greeting Wolfgang
November 10, 2012 at 11:12 am
yup! you too! 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 4:10 am
Beautiful story of two bodies and one soul. Love uninterrupted.
November 10, 2012 at 11:13 am
and they are dancing in the cloud now! thanks for stopping by! 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 5:40 am
I loved this, Sydney. Beautiful story of love and determination. Thank you.
Cathy
November 10, 2012 at 11:14 am
You are welcome, Cathy! I am glad you like it! 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 7:19 am
That is such a beautiful story. I’m glad I fell upon your blog!
November 10, 2012 at 11:26 am
Thank you! I feel stress margin going up now! LOL ! cheers!
November 10, 2012 at 7:30 am
Beautiful story of love
November 10, 2012 at 11:15 am
thanks, boomiebol! 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 9:08 am
Wonderful story. Great images to go with it.
November 10, 2012 at 11:17 am
Thank you, Mobius! I am glad you love this story! cheers!
November 10, 2012 at 9:34 am
What a beautiful story!
November 10, 2012 at 11:18 am
Yes, is really beautiful Bernice! And I thank you for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!
November 10, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Fabulous story!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
November 10, 2012 at 12:40 pm
you are welcome! 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Thank you for sharing this beautiful and moving story!
November 10, 2012 at 6:53 pm
no problem,Francina! have a great weekend! 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 4:00 pm
And this, my friends; is what love REALLY is! Very touching story! Beautiful! 😀
November 10, 2012 at 6:54 pm
And real love really do exist! thank you for visiting my Blog! cheers!
November 10, 2012 at 5:41 pm
I heard about this story a while ago when the story was widely circulated among Chinese people, when it was written in Chinese. I am glad that you posted the story in English on your blog so that people around the world will know this beautiful love story.
November 10, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Is okay, let me bridge over east and west! cheers!
November 10, 2012 at 9:34 pm
What a wondreful and touching story.
November 10, 2012 at 9:58 pm
yes, it is! thanks for stopping by! cheers! 🙂
November 10, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Stunningly beautiful pictures and a very touching story!
November 10, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Hey,thanks I always feel glad to have a sincere follower like you!
November 10, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Beautiful and very touching love story.
Thanks for sharing it with us all, Sydney.
November 11, 2012 at 12:48 pm
you are welcome Chris! 🙂
November 11, 2012 at 1:10 am
weeping….a beautiful story of devotion and love. thank you.
November 11, 2012 at 12:49 pm
cheers! 🙂
November 11, 2012 at 1:54 am
Very nice stairs… nice pictures, all together.
November 11, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Thanks, Shimonz! 🙂
November 11, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Precious and beatiful
November 12, 2012 at 12:31 am
Yes, is so touching and beautiful! 🙂
November 12, 2012 at 12:22 am
Oh Sydney! What a story. It surely restores our faith in humanity. The stairs are a testament to such painstaking dedication. I hope it serves as inspiration. I know it has inspired me!
November 12, 2012 at 12:33 am
Yes, we surely need that urgently! thanks for stopping by! 🙂
November 12, 2012 at 12:33 am
This is a nice story! In Hawaii (Oahu) we also have a place in which I have hiked before called “Stairway to Heaven”, but I think it is called this name because it is >4000 steps up the side of a mountain.
November 12, 2012 at 1:02 am
this was 6000 steps solely crafted by a pure man,I was really touch by his persistence.:)
November 12, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Song and story, both lovely!
Cheers, lovey!
November 12, 2012 at 9:47 pm
thanks nina! 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 1:41 pm
I need someone like Mr. Liu Guojiang. It’s av very touching story, it made me cry. Thanks for sharing this post.
November 13, 2012 at 1:48 pm
you are welcome! and I believe a good man like him must be a sainthood or angel now! cheers!
November 13, 2012 at 11:22 pm
What an amazing love story!
November 13, 2012 at 11:29 pm
yes, it is! it was awarded top ten inspire story in China, thanks for stopping by, cheers!
November 14, 2012 at 2:06 am
Very touching story. Thanks for sharing, pics are so nice.
November 14, 2012 at 11:34 am
thanks! 🙂
November 15, 2012 at 1:19 am
I have actually been to The Stairway many, mnay years ago. But never had such a story to relate to my visit until now. Thank you.
November 15, 2012 at 9:39 am
wow! so you been there! a place where crafted by a loyal man, I am sure they saw you in heaven! thanks for your stopping by! cheers!
November 18, 2012 at 4:10 am
Awwww.. Seriously… I’m touched by this!
November 18, 2012 at 10:31 am
yes, this is super inspiring touching story about true love, thanks for your visiting, enjoy your weekend!
November 18, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Great story!!!
November 18, 2012 at 7:05 pm
thank you! 🙂
November 18, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown and commented:
Wonderful!
November 18, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Hey, thanks!
November 21, 2012 at 5:41 am
OMG, true love…. * misty eyed*
November 21, 2012 at 9:39 am
yes! it is!
November 23, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Stick together, stay close to the mountain, take small steps, and sweep up after yourselves,
Thank-you for today’s beautiful thing.
November 23, 2012 at 8:23 pm
And enjoy what we have! thanks for your sweet compliments! cheers!
November 26, 2012 at 3:25 am
so beautiful–emotionally, visually and spiritually, too.
November 26, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Yes, it is! When I read this beautiful story, I realize I must spread and share these beautiful souls to the whole world, that is the power of Blogging, thanks Charron!
November 28, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Sydney, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful love story that seems so rare these days. What a great way to start the day! 😉
November 28, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Reblogged this on bobbieslife and commented:
A rare and beautiful love story that will warm your heart. Thank you Sydney for sharing this post with all of us.
November 29, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Thanks Bobbie! I am glad you like it and reBlog, spreading the good soul to the world, cheers! 🙂
November 29, 2012 at 8:19 pm
A story of true love, I would say.
November 29, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Thank you my friend. thanks!
December 1, 2012 at 4:44 am
I am truly moved about the love and devotion of these two people who lived their life and made it to the stairsteps of heaven!
December 1, 2012 at 10:21 am
yes! so far this is the most touching love story I ever come across. Thanks Linda! have a great weekend! 🙂
December 2, 2012 at 12:37 am
story touched my heart . . . opened my mind to the strength of committed love … thank you for this gift.
December 2, 2012 at 12:45 am
you are welcome, Brenda! it is the most inspire story I ever come across, of course I’ll look for more to share with you. Thanks for your reading! have a great weekend!
December 2, 2012 at 10:04 am
A very touching story! Feel warm after reading it.
December 2, 2012 at 10:46 am
Thanks,CK! I am glad you like it and are back from your amazing tour?
December 2, 2012 at 11:01 am
We back few weeks ago, hahaha, but only now start writing the post about Peru. 😛
December 2, 2012 at 11:07 am
oic! Jetlag for few weeks ah! LOL! enjoy your weekend! cheers!
December 4, 2012 at 7:55 pm
What a great story!!! Thank you!
December 4, 2012 at 7:57 pm
You are welcome! I thanks you for thank you me! 🙂
December 12, 2012 at 12:12 am
Simply Beautiful…
December 12, 2012 at 12:28 am
Yes, it is! I hope we all learn from their Loyalty in love! Hey! thanks for stopping by, cheers!
December 14, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Aww, that’s a lovely story, and great photos of the steps too!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Rohan.
December 14, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Hey! Rohan, thanks for your compliments and stop by my Blog! Have a great weekend! 🙂
December 16, 2012 at 7:01 pm
What a beautiful love story, and it must be someone you know because of the pictures of their children, I assume. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
December 16, 2012 at 8:14 pm
No! This article was adopted from somewhere, a pure soul!
December 17, 2012 at 12:29 am
I saw that the pictures were off Google after I made the comment. It was a great story. Repost it on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. 🙂
December 17, 2012 at 12:38 am
Yes, is a very famous love story in China, and lately they made a series drama for that!
December 17, 2012 at 12:49 am
I love it! I was just telling my husband about my late night readings on your website. 🙂
December 17, 2012 at 1:26 am
Yes, good to spread the story, or even tell your foe, it may closer the gap! Haha! Love is a wonderful media!
December 17, 2012 at 1:32 am
Maybe we should tell our foes most of all. Then we wouldn’t have so many foes! 🙂
December 18, 2012 at 12:35 am
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I loved your story on Stairway to Heaven. So beautiful. Glad I stopped by.
December 18, 2012 at 11:54 am
Thanks Sandra! This is one of the true love way, I belief! And also, I am sure they are listening our conversation now, somewhere in heaven!
December 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Sydney, thank you for coming over to my site, Be Whole Now, and giving me some Likes. This story is absolutely precious! I am hoping that in 2013 I will find a love so pure and true and – as you said – noble. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
December 20, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Hey! Rachel, this a true story in China, and now they making the movie for that! Thanks for your visiting! I see you around!