"Love needs a zebra crossing" is a very popular saying on the Internet. To many Chengdu people, Hejiangting's "I Love you" zebra crossing perfectly captures the spirit of the saying. This zebra crossing became Chengdu's red carpet during the Spring Festival. "We designed this love zebra crossing not only for newly-married couples. It gives warmth and love to everyone who walks over it," a Chengdu traffic policeman said.

This photo published on Sunday, February 1, 2009 shows China's first "Love zebra crossing" in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. [Photo: scol.com.cn]

The 4-meter-wide zebra crossing on South Tianxianqiao Street is very eye-catching. It is painted red with white crossing lines and two hearts with the words "I Love You" in the middle. "It has proved very popular. Many people have visited it to take photos," said Liu Gang, a local worker. During the spring festival he watched several couples get married in Hejiangting. This "red carpet" brought an extra blessing to their nuptials.

Liang Xuemei, a Hainan girl coming to visit Chengdu, drove through Hejiangting with her friend and they stopped their car to take photos when they saw the "I Love You" zebra crossing. "It looks very warm and romantic," she said.

The story started during the last May Day holiday, when a new crosswalk was painted and christened with the name "Love zebra crossing". It was specially designed for newly married couples by the Hejiangting police.

At first there was nothing special about the "Love zebra crossing". A Hejiangting policeman described how they decorated the zebra crossing with cones during the previous Double Seventh Festival and National holidays, adding a little local colour to the holidays. "Thinking on the fact that the bus lanes in Chengdu are red, we decided to make some changes to the zebra crossing." Towards the end of last year they searched the Internet for specially-designed zebra crossings at home and abroad. Eventually they chose this one.

The design was soon approved by the higher authorities. Work started before the New Year and was completed on January 29. The Hejiangting traffic policeman said that they plan to paint "Love zebra crossing" in Chinese on it too. "We want to give two blessings through this unique red zebra crossing," said the policeman. "Firstly we want to give a blessing to newly-married couples, and at the same time we want to remind people of traffic regulations and make sure they take care of themselves for the sake of their loved ones."

A couple are crossing over a 'Love zebra crossing' in Chengdu, Sichuan on Sunday, February 1, 2009. The red-ground zebra crossing, first such work in China, was painted with words 'I Love You' and two linked hearts. The 'red carpet' was created to send blessings to local couples, and to remind people of traffic regulations. [Photo:hdzxw.com]

(China.org.cn by Zhang Ming'ai, February 4, 2009)