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Leaving Baidi City at Dawn

早发白帝城 · Li Bai · 唐

Chinese · Pinyin · English
朝zhāo辞cí白bái帝dì彩cǎi云yún间jiān

At dawn I leave Baidi among colored clouds;

千qiān里lǐ江jiāng陵líng一yí日rì还huán

A thousand li to Jiangling, returning in one day.

两liǎng岸àn猿yuán声shēng啼tí不bú住zhù

Ape cries on both banks have not yet ceased,

轻qīng舟zhōu已yǐ过guò万wàn重chóng山shān

When the light boat has passed countless mountains.

Meaning

Leaving Baidi amid morning clouds, the boat travels swiftly downstream toward Jiangling. Ape calls still echo as it passes mountain after mountain. The poem feels light and free.

About the poet

Li Bai was a Tang poet known for vivid imagination and poems about nature, friendship and longing.

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