When I got Poetry Roads in Zhejiang, published by the Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House, I was immediately attracted by its charming and exquisite design. Opening this book, I was again fascinated by its elegant layout, its simple and vintage illustrations, and above all its beautifully written poetry and analysis.

As the title suggests, one of the main threads of the book is the four poetry roads of Zhejiang, i.e. the Qiantang River Poetry Road, the Grand Canal Poetry Road, the Oujiang River Landscape Poetry Road, and the Tang Poetry Road in East Zhejiang, which covers all the 11 prefecture-level cities of the province, renowned mountains such as the Kuaiji Mountain, the Tiantai Mountain, the Yandang Mountain, as well as popular scenic spots such as the West Lake and the Lingyin Temple. The other main thread is the 120 celebrated Chinese poems that have been specially selected for appreciation and analysis. Coupled with illustrations, most of which are famous paintings about places along the four poetry roads, the book has presented the readers with a beautiful Zhejiang in culture and ecology, a charming Zhejiang in temperament and vitality. 

Over the past 5,000 years, a fine traditional culture has been born out of the Chinese civilization, the accumulation of the deepest spiritual pursuit of the Chinese nation and the epitome of its unique spiritual identity. In recent years, the Chinese government has issued a series of policies in protecting and inheriting China’s fine traditional culture. Accordingly, Zhejiang province has proposed the aforementioned four poetry roads or cultural belts and made a comprehensive plan. Since then, extensive work has been carried out in its implementation, of which Poetry Roads in Zhejiang is an important part.

About 100 colored paintings from renowned painters like Huang Gongwang

(1269-1354) and Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322) were selected as illustrations for the book

Poetry is literature within the literature. In a broader sense, poetry is a general term for all forms of arts and an important way for human beings to see the world. Indeed, as the ancients used to say, poetry is an expression of one’s aspirations. I have often wondered why poets have written poetry throughout history. I believe they do so for the following reasons: to express emotions; to show an understanding of life; to communicate feelings through mountains and rivers; to eulogize friendship; because emotions and feelings are stirred up by what they see; or to lament for everything. There is no doubt that one of the best ways to convey emotions and feelings is through poetry and in Chinese history, the classical poets have penned countless poems.

As the place where the state of Yue (2032-222 BC) was born, Zhejiang has been known for its charming landscape, hospitable people, and unique culture, drawing sages, literati, and poets alike over the generations. Bai Juyi (772-846) for instance, still pined for Hangzhou’s mesmerizing scenery in his later years, “When I remember Jiangnan [south of the Yangtze River], most fondly I remember Hangzhou.” Su Shi, marveling at the magnificent Qiantang River tidal bore, exclaimed, “How high can the crest of the waves soar? Even the Yue mountains are buried beneath all.” Li Bai (701-762), traveling on the Tiantai Mountain, declared, “Looking far into the distance up high, the seas are directly under my eye.” Xie Lingyun (385-433), the pioneer of the landscape poetry genre, wrote,” Spring grass grows rampantly over the pond and myriad birds chirp happily in the willows,” during his stay in Yongjia.

Zhejiang’s landscape, culture, and its history have been connected through poetry and landscape paintings in the book

From the Jin dynasty (266-420), when the “poetry road culture” began to germinate, through the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties in its height, to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1616-1911) dynasties when it firmly took root, tens of thousands of poems were written on Zhejiang. Although called poetry “roads”, they in fact run largely along the province’s major rivers, around which the forebearers of Zhejiang chose to live. The poetry road culture is a precious treasure bequeathed to Zhejiang, and the provincial government’s decision to build a Poetry Road Culture Belt has provided a new approach for the province’s cultural development, a major component of its pursuit for high-quality development.

Indeed, the urban affluence, economic prosperity, and cultural richness along the four poetry roads testify to Zhejiang’s dynamic of innovative development. At present, the province is working to establish a demonstration zone for common prosperity, as people here are living an ever better life. A good life is not only abundant in food, clothing, housing, transportation, among other material aspects; it also means spiritually and culturally prosperous. Poetry Roads in Zhejiang is born in such a context. This exquisite and readable book will help readers learn more about the stories behind the four poetry roads, about the history of Zhejiang, and about Zhexue (the Zhejiang Scholarship). I hope this book will be useful for the research of the poetry roads, and supply readers with enough food for thought.