Li Bai(701－762) is regarded as the greatest romantic poet of the Tang Dynasty (618－907) and a representative of the high Tang culture. He is best known for the extravagant imagination and striking Taoist imagery in his poetry. Approximately 1,100 of his poems remain today.

　　Sailing Early From Baidi Town

　　早发白帝城

　　We set sail at dawn from Baidi Town under a rosy sky，

　　朝辞白帝彩云间，

　　One thousand­li trip down to Jiangling and back the same day.

　　千里江陵一日还。

　　The noisy chatter of apes from the shores followed us all the way，

　　两岸猿声啼不住，

　　Lightly, our boat skipped past ten thousand green mountains high.

　　轻舟已过万重山。

　　Du Fu was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. Along with Li Bai, he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His greatest ambition was to serve his country as a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations.

Meeting Li Guinian in the South