Checklist: Love locks in Asia

SINGAPORE — It may be a symbol of love for some, but two American women in Paris recently started a campaign to ban the use of the popular love locks in the city of love. For those of you who haven’t heard of them, here’s what happens: A couple writes their names on a padlock and locks it onto one of the bridges in Paris. They then throw the key into the Seine River as a symbol of their undying love. The campaign claims that the estimated 70,000 locks across Paris are weighing down the city’s structures and putting them at risk, in particular, the Pont des Arts and the Pont de l’Archeveche. The tourism site for Paris has also suggested tourists send an e-love lock instead. But if you must lock up your affections, here are three other places where you can still imprison your love. And you don’t have to fly all the way to Europe to do so.

Penang

Broke lovers, go there. It’s much nearer and cheaper than Paris. This is a recent addition to Penang Hill. The Love Lock was launched this Valentine’s Day (of course) and there are padlocks of all sizes for sale. Markers and sprays are available on hand for decoration.

Seoul

Seoul Tower is declared to be “the most visited observation deck in Seoul” by the Korean Tourism Organisation, ensuring your love locket has plenty of company and a great view of the city. Locks are absolutely encouraged here: There are Love Trees built to accommodate more locks and chairs are deliberately shaped to look like hearts so you can cosy up with your significant other while scribbling your messages on the locks. Keys can be left in the special Postbox of Love instead of chucking them.

Huangshan

What’s more romantic than going to China where this custom supposedly originated from? We’re talking about Huangshan, specifically, where lore has it that a pair of forbidden lovers took their lives by leaping off the mountain together. If that’s love to you, join in the thousands of locks hanging from chains along the path.