The Lovers’ Rock on Bowen Road
The Lovers’ Rock is rumoured to bring good luck in the love department. In this week before the Lunar New Year, I was looking for an easy trail for a much-needed walk. Since Bowen Road is in the vicinity, I thought I could also bring in some good luck with a visit to the Lovers’ Rock on the way.
The Bowen Road Fitness Trail
The Bowen Road Fitness Trail is a very popular trail for all sorts of activities. Many people like to do a quick along-the-city walk. Many more jog on this trail. Still more walk their dogs there.
The trail stretches from Wan Chai all the way to Stubbs Road. As such, you will be seeing some pretty good city views northward and eastward.
From the entrance point from Bowen Drive to the end point at Stubbs Road, the trail is only 2.6km. If you enter from Bowen Drive, the only incline is between Kennedy Road and Bowen Drive. Once you reach Bowen Road, you will be on a level walk throughout.
To walk this way, you will begin on the 17th floor of the Hopewell Centre. Enter into Hopewell Centre on Queen’s Road East, then take the elevators up to the 17th floor. Exit the building onto Kennedy Road, then facing south, head up on your right. Soon you will arrive at Bowen Drive, take the incline up, and you will reach Bowen Road Park. That is the way to enter the Bowen Road Fitness Trail.
The Wan Chai Gap Road Entry onto Bowen Road Fitness Trail
To clock in some exercise, I chose to enter Bowen Road from Bamboo Grove on Kennedy Road, via Wan Chai Gap Road. This incline is a bit rigorous but certainly very doable.
Again, start at Hopewell Centre 17th floor. On Kennedy Road, facing south, make a left instead, and go all the way to Bamboo Grove. You will see the slope up at this point with signage pointing you to the way of Bowen Road. That is Wan Chai Gap Road. After climbing this slope, there is no more incline on the trail.
Once you reach this point at Wan Chai Gap Road, make a left (eastward) and continue on Bowen Road to find the Lovers’ Rock.
The Lovers’ Rock
The Lovers’ Rock is known locally to be particularly auspicious for love, that it always brings together lovers who pray for their relationship to bear fruits, or give children to those who pray for fertility.
According to the Wikipedia, a tragic love story gave rise to the lovers’ rock becoming the augury for love. A Japanese soldier fell in love with a local woman during WWII. Their love was forbidden, and they opted to commit suicide here. They were turned into the Lovers’ Rock. Later, they appeared in the dreams of local women, telling them that if they would tender sincere prayers at the rock, their wishes for love will come true. It thus became the urban legend that we know today.
As to the claims of enabling fertility, it is of course quite obvious that the shape of the rock resembles that of the male reproductive organ. I guess that is not subject to debate.
The Lovers’ Rock lies quite close to the Wan Chai Gap Road entry on Bowen Road. There is a flight of stairs to climb before reaching the rock. The whole walk, including the Lovers’ Rock, will take about an hour or so. There are generous shades throughout and quite a number of resting spots.
Finally, toward the end of the Fitness Trail, you will come across the Boundary Stone for Victoria City.
The end of Bowen Road meets Stubbs Road. There are many buses and minibuses for you to take back to the city.
How to Get There
Reach the 17th Floor of Hopewell Centre for both entry points introduced in this entry.
Source
The Wikipedia on the Lovers’ Rock (Chin).