钱塘湖春行
Qián Táng Hú Chūn Xíng
Spring Walk by Qiantang Lake
白居易 (Bai Juyi) · Tang Dynasty · 772–846
Original Text
孤山寺北贾亭西，
gū shān sì běi jiǎ tíng xī,
水面初平云脚低。
shuǐ miàn chū píng yún jiǎo dī.
几处早莺争暖树，
jǐ chù zǎo yīng zhēng nuǎn shù,
谁家新燕啄春泥。
shuí jiā xīn yàn zhuó chūn ní.
乱花渐欲迷人眼，
luàn huā jiàn yù mí rén yǎn,
浅草才能没马蹄。
qiǎn cǎo cái néng mò mǎ tí.
最爱湖东行不足，
zuì ài hú dōng xíng bù zú,
绿杨阴里白沙堤。
lǜ yáng yīn lǐ bái shā dī.
English Translation
North of Solitary Hill Temple, west of Jia Pavilion, the water surface has just leveled, the low clouds skim the waves. Here and there, early orioles compete for warm trees; whose new swallows are pecking at spring mud? Wild flowers are gradually becoming dazzling to the eyes; the shallow grass can barely cover the horse's hooves. What I love most is the east of the lake where I never walk enough — the white sand causeway amid the shade of green willows.
Historical Background
Written around 822 AD when Bai Juyi served as governor of Hangzhou, this poem captures the beauty of West Lake (Qiantang Lake) in early spring. Bai Juyi was a devoted lover of West Lake and built the famous causeway (Bai Causeway) that still bears his name today.
Literary Analysis
This poem is a masterclass in capturing the exact moment of early spring. Each couplet adds a new sensory detail: the risen water level, the competing orioles, the nest-building swallows, the blooming flowers, and the young grass. The progression from distant landscape to close-up details creates a cinematic walk around the lake. The final couplet reveals the poet's deep personal attachment to this place.
Details
Form
Seven-character Regulated Verse (七言律诗)
Theme
Seasons & Time
About Bai Juyi (白居易)
Bai Juyi was one of the most prolific and popular Tang Dynasty poets, known as the 'Poet King' (诗王). He championed plain, accessible language in poetry and served as governor of both Hangzhou and Suzhou. His works include the epic narrative poems 'Song of Everlasting Sorrow' and 'The Pipa Player'.
2 poems by Bai Juyi in our collection
Traditional Chinese
孤山寺北賈亭西，水面初平雲腳低。幾處早鶯爭暖樹，誰家新燕啄春泥。亂花漸欲迷人眼，淺草才能沒馬蹄。最愛湖東行不足，綠楊陰裏白沙堤。