黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵
huáng hè lóu sòng mèng hào rán zhī guǎng líng
Seeing Off Meng Haoran at Yellow Crane Tower
李白 (Li Bai) · Tang Dynasty · 701–762
Original Text
故人西辞黄鹤楼，
gù rén xī cí huáng hè lóu,
烟花三月下扬州。
yān huā sān yuè xià yáng zhōu.
孤帆远影碧空尽，
gū fān yuǎn yǐng bì kōng jìn,
唯见长江天际流。
wéi jiàn cháng jiāng tiān jì liú.
English Translation
My old friend bids farewell at Yellow Crane Tower in the west, amid the mist and blossoms of March, heading down to Yangzhou. His lone sail's distant shadow vanishes into blue sky — all I see is the Yangtze flowing to the edge of heaven.
Historical Background
Li Bai wrote this poem to see off his friend and fellow poet Meng Haoran, who was traveling east to Yangzhou. Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan is one of China's most famous landmarks. The two poets had a deep friendship, and Li Bai greatly admired the older Meng Haoran. The poem is set in the most beautiful month — March, when the riverbanks are covered in blossoms.
Literary Analysis
The poem never directly states Li Bai's feelings — instead, his emotions are conveyed through what he watches. He stands at the tower watching his friend's boat until the sail disappears into the horizon, then keeps watching as the river flows on. The fact that he continues to gaze after the boat has vanished reveals the depth of his attachment. The final image — the Yangtze stretching to heaven's edge — transforms personal sorrow into cosmic vastness.
Details
Form
Seven-character Quatrain (七言绝句)
Theme
Friendship & Farewell
About Li Bai (李白)
Li Bai is one of the most celebrated poets in Chinese history, known as the "Immortal Poet" (诗仙). Born in Central Asia and raised in Sichuan, he was famous for his romantic imagination, love of wine, and Daoist-influenced worldview. His poetry combines grandeur with effortless elegance.
5 poems by Li Bai in our collection
Traditional Chinese
故人西辭黃鶴樓，煙花三月下揚州。孤帆遠影碧空盡，唯見長江天際流。