Illinois in the U.S. also has a "Love Wall" — locking love with double hearts

By Hully
Paris’ Pont des Arts, Rome’s Milvio Bridge, and Seoul’s N Seoul Tower, known as romantic landmarks, attract thousands of visitors every year who "lock" their love promises on the structures, symbolizing eternal love. Now, the small town of Orion in Illinois, U.S., has also set up a "Love Wall" in its Central Park — no need to go to tourist hotspots to find the perfect place to lock your love, where this quaint town can witness your bond.

▲ Central Park in the town of Orion also features an "iron wall of love." (Photo / fromIllinois Tourism Facebook Page)

Some say the tradition of love locks originated from the Italian movie *Ho voglia di te* (translated as: I Want You), but the iron plaque at Central Park states that it follows an ancient Chinese legend. It is said that at Tianzhu Peak of Mount Wudang, couples would lock a gold padlock engraved with their names onto the chains at the Golden Lock Pass, then throw the key off the cliff — ensuring their love would last forever.

▲ The Main Street community uses proceeds from lock sales to build an open-air opera house. (Photo / fromMain Street Orion Community official website)

Visitors can purchase gold padlocks shaped like double hearts and engraved with the Chinese characters for “eternal love” and “hearts as one” from the Main Street community. The proceeds from lock sales are used by residents to build an open-air opera house in the park.