Has Anyone Died on the Love Ladder in China? The Liu Guojiang and Xu Chaoqing Story

Love Ladder in China

Yes, two people tied to the Love Ladder (爱情天梯) have died, though neither death occurred on the steps themselves. Liu Guojiang and Xu Chaoqing became a national symbol of devotion in China when Liu spent over five decades hand-carving 6,208 stone steps up a mountainside so his wife could walk down safely. Both passed away at the mountaintop home they shared for half a century. Today the staircase in Chongqing draws thousands of visitors who come to climb the path Liu cut for Xu.

The Love Ladder sits on Banpo Tou (半坡头) mountain in Zhongshan Town, Jiangjin District, roughly 150 kilometers south of Chongqing city center. The couple's story earned official recognition as one of the "Ten Classic Contemporary Chinese Love Stories" in 2006. Visitors now hike the steps as a tourist attraction managed by the local government. This guide covers who died, how they died, the full love story, and everything a foreign visitor needs to plan the trip.

Quick Facts

Has Anyone Died on the Love Ladder

Love Ladder in China

Two people linked to the Love Ladder have died. Liu Guojiang passed away on December 12, 2007, at approximately age 70. According to Chinese media reports, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage after collapsing in the early hours of December 7 while checking on crops near the mountaintop home he and Xu shared. He died five days later at that same home. Xu Chaoqing died on October 30, 2012, at age 87, also at the mountaintop residence.

Neither death occurred on the stone steps. Liu died at the home he built on Banpo Tou; Xu died there as well, several years after her husband. The steps themselves, which Liu maintained throughout his life, were not the site of either fatality.

No confirmed tourist climbing death on the steps appears in available public records through 2024-2025. The local government continues to preserve the site as a tourist attraction, and visitors do climb the steps regularly. The deaths on record remain those of the couple who created the path.

❤️ Read the Full Love Story: Discover how Liu Guojiang hand-carved the mountainside path over five decades and why their romantic legacy captured national attention in our complete feature on the Ladder of Love China.

The Liu Guojiang and Xu Chaoqing Love Story

Love Ladder in China

Liu Guojiang was six years old when he first saw Xu Chaoqing on her wedding day in 1942. She became the village bride, and the young boy told relatives he would one day find a wife "like Auntie Xu." When Xu's first husband died of acute meningitis roughly a decade later, leaving her a widow with four children, Liu was still an adolescent. In August 1956, the 19-year-old Liu and the 29-year-old Xu eloped to the isolated summit of Banpo Tou, near the Simian Mountain border area where Chongqing, Sichuan, and Guizhou meet.

For the next fifty years Liu carved the cliff face so his wife could descend safely. Their isolation was nearly total. An outdoor team rediscovered the couple in autumn 2001. The team initially mistook two elderly figures for "Wild Men." The elderly pair called each other "young man" and "old lady" (laolao). Their first question to strangers was "How is Chairman Mao?" In 2006 the story earned official designation as one of the "Ten Classic Contemporary Chinese Love Stories" and Liu was named among the "Ten Most Touching Figures in Chongqing." Tens of thousands subsequently arrived to climb the steps.

How Liu Carved 6,000 Steps for His Wife

Over half a century Liu Guojiang worked alone with a hand iron drill and hammer, cutting the steps directly into the cliff. The treads are less than one foot wide. Some sections reach nearly vertical 90-degree pitches where the step above brushes a climber's nose.

• Tool: Single hand iron drill and hammer throughout his life
• Step width: Less than one foot; narrow by design
• Cliff-face angle: Near-vertical 90-degree sections in steepest areas
• Hand-grip hollows: Liu chipped support holds into the left cliff for leverage
• Anti-slip treatment: Scattered soil on each tread to reduce slipping
• Drills worn out: More than 20 iron drills over the project lifespan

The couple kept bees, hunted wild rabbits, raised free-range chickens, and grew potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn on the summit. Wild boars and monkeys raided their crops regularly.

How the Couple Was Discovered

In October 2001 an outdoor expedition team entered via the single-log bridge at Suoluo Zui near the Dafo Bodhisattva Temple. The elderly pair had no contact with the outside world. Xu was startled when a camera flash fired. She asked whether "that thing is so bright, it kills the blood vessels." Their isolation was so complete that Liu and Xu had no knowledge of the world beyond their mountain.

A 2006 interview with the Chongqing Evening News brought national fame. Visitors began arriving by the thousands to climb the steps Liu had carved. The local government eventually recognized the site as a tourist attraction and undertook preservation work.

Visiting the Love Ladder Today

Love Ladder in China

The steps are preserved by the local government as a tourist attraction. Visitors enter via Zhongshan Ancient Town, then follow a local mountain road to the trailhead at Suoluo Zui near the Dafo Bodhisattva Temple. A Cyathea (tree-fern) forest lines the lower path. Danxia rock outcrops along the route date back roughly 60 million years. The full round trip takes most visitors 8–10 hours. Restrooms and small vendors exist only at the trailhead.

Getting to Jiangjin and Zhongshan Town

Ticket, Hours and On-Site Logistics

The scenic area entrance fee covers the trail to Banpo Tou. Open hours run typically from 08:00 to 17:00 daily. The full climb to the summit and back is a full-day outing. The couple's mountaintop home is preserved as a small memorial near the top. No facilities exist on the route itself.

• Ticket: About $7 (¥50) per person
• Hours: 08:00–17:00 daily
• Round-trip time: 8–10 hours
• What to bring: At least 1.5–2 L water, snacks, hiking shoes, layers
• Facilities: Restrooms and vendors at trailhead only
• Memorial stop: The couple's mountaintop home is preserved near the summit

🏔️ Explore Chongqing's Mountain Landscapes: Beyond Banpo Tou, southwestern China features deep gorges, karst formations, and scenic highland trails. Explore regional itineraries in our guide to the Chongqing Mountains.

Climbing the 6,000 Steps Safely

Love Ladder in China

No documented tourist climbing death is confirmed in available sources. However the steps present a real physical challenge. The 6,208 steps rise roughly 1,500 meters. The steepest sections are nearly vertical. Many treads are less than one foot wide on exposed cliff faces. Hand-carved stone becomes slick after rain. The hand-grip hollows Liu chipped into the left cliff provide the only leverage in steep sections.

Weather in the Simian Mountain border area changes quickly. Mist is common year-round. Summer heat in Chongqing's river valleys contrasts sharply with cool, cloud-covered conditions on Banpo Tou. Anyone with severe heart, knee, or vertigo conditions should reconsider the climb. Unaccompanied young children face real risk on the narrow exposed sections.

• Hiking shoes: Proper grip is essential; no sandals or smooth soles
• Water: At least 1.5–2 L per person; no refill points on route
• Start early: Midday departure cuts into daylight; avoid the hottest hours
• Skip after heavy rain: Stone becomes extremely slippery; anti-slip soil loses effectiveness
• Use the hand-grip hollows: Grip the carved holds on vertical sections; do not rely on the narrow treads alone
• Medical conditions: Skip the climb with severe heart, knee, or vertigo issues
• Children: Keep within arm's reach at all times on exposed sections
• Local guide: Consider hiring a guide at the trailhead if unfamiliar with the route

Visa, Payment and Apps for US Visitors

US citizens visiting the Love Ladder face three practical hurdles: the visa requirement, payment methods, and app availability. The sections below address each one directly.

Visa

US passport holders need a Chinese tourist (L) visa unless they qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme. As of recent policy, Chongqing is among the eligible transit entry points for this scheme. Apply via the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in the United States. Standard processing takes 4–7 business days; express options cost more.

• L visa: Baseline requirement for most US tourists
• 240-hour transit: Chongqing is an eligible entry point; verify current eligibility on the US State Department and Chinese consular pages before booking
• Processing: Standard 4–7 business days; express available at additional cost
• Passport validity: Must have 6+ months remaining and at least one blank page

Payment

Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard through their "Tour Card" and "Pay International" features. However cash in RMB is still needed for small rural vendors at the Love Ladder trailhead. Credit card acceptance outside large city hotels in Chongqing is limited.

• Alipay / WeChat Pay: Link a Visa or Mastercard via the "Tour Card" or "Pay International" feature before departure
• Cash: Carry RMB notes for trailhead vendors who do not accept foreign cards
• Credit cards: Accepted at larger Chongqing hotels only; do not rely on cards in rural Jiangjin

Apps

Several apps are essential for visiting rural Chongqing. DiDi is China's primary ride-hail service and has an English mode. Google Maps does not work reliably in mainland China without a VPN; Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps with offline maps downloaded are the practical alternatives. Pleco is a useful Chinese dictionary app. Trip.com handles transport and hotel bookings. A VPN is needed if Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook access is required.

• DiDi: Ride-hail; English interface available
• Amap or Baidu Maps: Download offline maps before departing for areas with poor signal
• Pleco: Chinese dictionary; useful for reading signs
• Trip.com: Transport and hotel bookings
• VPN: Required for Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook; use privately and check local regulations

Connectivity at the trailhead is patchy. Buy a Chinese SIM card at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) or activate an eSIM before departure. China Unicom offers short-term tourist SIM packages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Has anyone died on the Love Ladder in China recently?

The most recent death associated with the Love Ladder was Xu Chaoqing's on October 30, 2012. No new fatality linked to the steps themselves has been confirmed in publicly available reporting through 2024-2025.

Q: Has anyone died on the Love Ladder in China today?

No single-day "today" incident is on record. The on-record deaths are Liu Guojiang (December 12, 2007, cerebral hemorrhage at the mountaintop home) and Xu Chaoqing (October 30, 2012, age 87). For any current incident, check Chongqing local news sources.

Q: How many steps are on the Love Ladder?

The Love Ladder has 6,208 hand-carved stone steps cut over 50 years by Liu Guojiang using a hand iron drill and hammer. The steps rise roughly 1,500 meters to the Banpo Tou summit.

Q: Where is the Love Ladder in China?

Banpo Tou (半坡头) mountain, Zhongshan Town, Jiangjin District, Chongqing Municipality, about 150 kilometers south of Chongqing city center, near the Simian Mountain border area.

Q: Can tourists climb the Love Ladder?

Yes. The local government preserves the site as a tourist attraction. The climb to the Banpo Tou summit and back takes a full day (8–10 hours). Bring water, snacks, hiking shoes, and weather-appropriate layers.

Q: Do US citizens need a visa to visit Chongqing?

US passport holders need a Chinese L (tourist) visa unless they qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme that includes Chongqing. Apply via the Chinese Visa Application Service Center and verify current rules on the official US State Department and Chinese consular pages before booking.

Q: Can I pay with a US credit card at the Love Ladder?

Largely no for on-site vendors. Link a Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay via the "Tour Card" or "Pay International" feature before departure, and carry small RMB notes for rural vendors at the trailhead.