Unforgettable sweetness of meeting 50 years ago！ Grandpa makes the annual pilgrimage to Lishan on the same day to remember his beloved wife

▲ A photo of grandma taken by grandpa back in the day. (Photo /Lishan Hotel – Taiwan’s Highest Palace HotelProvided)

Reported by reporter Yang Xiaorou

What would drive a 75-year-old grandfather to make the arduous trip up to Lishan every October 26? Recently, Lishan Hotel shared the story titled “The Promise of October 26” on its Facebook fan page, recounting how this grandfather comes to the hotel on the same day each year because it was on that very day 50 years ago that he had his first wonderful encounter with his beloved wife.

Lishan Hotel was where Liu Chongsheng, the grandfather, and his late wife, Lin Shuqing, had their first date. Grandpa recalled that in 1967, his wife, who worked as a public health nurse, was assigned to Lishan for a one-month internship to promote household hygiene awareness. On October 25, Grandpa had originally planned to visit her on the mountain but couldn't make it due to a landslide blocking the road. The next day, after the road was cleared, he rode his motorcycle for five hours from Wufeng to get there—creating a cherished memory and forging an eternal love.

▲ Grandpa Liu brought along a black-and-white photo album of his wife’s pictures and returned to Lishan Hotel to reminisce about their first date. (Photo /Lishan Hotel – Taiwan’s Highest Palace HotelProvided)

Four years ago, Grandma passed away. In her memory, Grandpa decided starting last year to bring the black-and-white photo album of her pictures and return to Lishan Hotel every October 26 to recall their first date. This year on October 26, he also came here, spending time chatting with the hotel staff over a cup of coffee, allowing this heartwarming and touching story to live on.

During the interview, Grandpa said that now that he’s older, he can no longer ride a motorcycle for such a long journey and has to take a five-hour bus ride from the train station to get to the mountain. Though the trip is far, Grandpa believes that even though he is now alone,“it’s a blessing to be able to revisit the place where I first met my wife each year and recall our memories.”Grandpa Liu’s deep longing for his wife has not only remained strong over the years but has also become a beautiful tale in Taiwan’s highest palace hotel.

▲ Lishan Hotel. (Photo / From the Lishan Hotel – Taiwan’s Highest Palace Hotel fan page)