Watching the Tidal Bore
- Poetry of Liu Yong

东南形胜，三吴都会，钱塘自古繁华。

烟柳画桥，风帘翠幕，参差十万人家。

云树绕堤沙，怒涛卷霜雪，天堑无涯。

市列珠玑，户盈罗绮竞豪奢。

重湖叠瓛清嘉，有三秋桂子，十里荷花。

羌管弄晴，菱歌泛夜，嬉嬉钓叟莲娃。

千骑拥高牙，乘醉听箫鼓，吟赏烟霞。

异日图将好景，归去凤池夸。

Scenic splendor to the southeast of River Blue 

And capital of ancient Kingdom Wu,

Qiantang's as flourishing as e'er.

Smoke-like willows form a wind-proof screen,

Adorned with painted bridges and curtains green,

A hundred thousand houses stand here and there.

Upon the banks along the sand,

Cloud-crowned trees stand.

Great waves roll up like snow banks white,

The river extends till it's lost to sight.

Jewels and pearls at the Fair on display,

Satins and silks in splendid array,

People vie in magnificence 

And opulence.

Lake on lake reflects peak on peak which towers,

Late autumn fragrant with osmanthus flowers,

Lotus in full bloom for miles and miles.

Northwestern pipes play with sunlight,

Water chestnut songs are sung by starlight,

Old fishermen and maidens young all beam with smiles.

With flags before and guards behind you come,

Drunken,you may listen to flute and drum,

Chanting praises loud

Of the land 'neath the cloud.

You may picture the fair scene another day 

And boast to the Court where you're in proud array.