1. "Evening Scene on the Spring River in Huichong" by Su Shi of the Song Dynasty
Three or two branches of peach blossoms outside the bamboo are a prophet of the warmth of the spring river. The ground is full of wilting grass and the reed buds are short, which is when the puffer fish is about to come.
Translation: Two or three peach blossoms are blooming outside the bamboo forest. Ducks are playing in the water. They are the first to notice the warming of the river in early spring. The river beach is already full of mugwort, the reeds are beginning to sprout, and the pufferfish are about to swim upstream from the sea to the river.
2. "Boarding at Guazhou" by Wang Anshi of the Song Dynasty
Between Jingkou Guazhou and the water, Zhongshan is only separated by several mountains. The spring breeze has reached the south bank of the Yangtze River again. When will the bright moon shine on me again?
Translation: There is only the Yangtze River between Jingkou and Guazhou, and Zhongshan, where I live, is hidden behind several mountains. The warm spring breeze blows green the fields south of the Yangtze River. When will the bright moon shine on me back to my home at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain?
3. "Quequatrains" Song Dynasty·Seng Zhinan
A short canopy is tied in the shade of an ancient tree, and a staff and quinoa help me cross the east side of the bridge. The rain of apricot blossoms makes your clothes wet, and the wind from the willows blows on your face, which is not cold.
Translation: I tied the boat under the shade of a tall old tree; I walked across the small bridge with a cane and enjoyed the beautiful spring scenery. The slightest drizzle can't get my clothes wet; it falls on the gorgeous apricot flowers, making them even more brilliant. The breeze no longer makes me feel cold when blowing on my face; it dances the green and slender wickers, which is particularly light.
4. "Mountain Travel" by Du Mu of the Tang Dynasty
Far up the Hanshan Mountain, the stone path is slanted, and there are people living in the white clouds. Stop and sit in the maple forest at night, the leaves are as red as the flowers in February due to frost.
Translation: Along the winding path up the mountain, deep in the white clouds, there are actually other people. I stopped the car because I loved the evening view of the maple forest in late autumn. The maple leaves, stained by autumn frost, are more beautiful than the spring flowers in February.
5. "Early Departure from Baidi City" by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty
The white emperor's speech is among the colorful clouds, thousands of miles away from Jiangling - the sun returns. The apes on both sides of the bank can't stop crying, and the boat has passed the Ten Thousand Mountains.
Translation: In the early morning, I bid farewell to Baidi City, which is high in the sky; Jiangling is thousands of miles away, and the boat trip only takes one day. The sounds of apes on both sides of the bank are still ringing in my ears; before I know it, the boat has passed through thousands of green mountains.
6. "Looking at the Lushan Waterfall" by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty
The incense burner produces purple smoke in the sunshine, and the waterfall hangs in front of the river in the distance. The stream flows straight down three thousand feet, like the Milky Way falling into the sky.
Translation: Under the sunlight, purple haze rises from Xianglu Peak. Looking from a distance, the waterfall hangs in front of the mountain like white silk. The waterfall falling down from the high cliff seems to be thousands of feet long, making people feel like it is the Milky Way falling from the sky to the earth.
7. "Looking at Tianmen Mountain" by Tang Dynasty Li Bai
Tianmen interrupts the opening of the Chu River, and the clear water flows eastwards to this point. The green mountains on both sides of the strait stand out from each other, and a solitary sail comes from the sun.
Translation: Tianmen Mountain broke in the middle because the Chu River broke it open, and the clear water rushed eastward and turned back here. Towering green mountains on both sides of the river stand opposite each other across the Yangtze River, and a lone boat on the river looks like it is sailing from the sun.