wàng hǎi cháo
望 海 潮
Gazing at the Sea Tide

sòng liǔ yǒng
(宋) 柳 永
(Song) Liu Yong

dōng nán xíng shèng
东 南 形 胜 ，
East and South are the favored lands,

sān wú dōu huì
三 吴 都 会 ，
Three Wu’s metropolis,

qián táng zì gǔ fán huá
钱 塘 自 古 繁 华 ，
Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times,

yān liǔ huà qiáo
烟 柳 画 桥 ，
Smoke willows and painted bridges,

fēng lián cuì mù
风 帘 翠 幕 ，
Wind curtains and emerald screens,

cēn cī shí wàn rén jiā
参 差 十 万 人 家 。
Staggered, a hundred thousand households.

yún shù rào dī shā
云 树 绕 堤 沙 ，
Cloud trees encircle the riverbanks and sands,

nù tāo juǎn shuāng xuě
怒 涛 卷 霜 雪 ，
Furious waves roll the frosty snow,

tiān qiàn wú yá
天 堑 无 涯 。
The heavenly chasm has no bound.

shì liè zhū jī
市 列 珠 玑 ，
The market displays a row of pearls and jade,

hù yíng luó qǐ jìng háo shē
户 盈 罗 绮 ， 竞 豪 奢 。
Every household is filled with silks and brocade, competing in luxury.

chóng hú dié yǎn qīng jiā
重 湖 叠 巘 清 嘉 。
Layered lakes and green ridges reveal their clear and beautiful charm.

yǒu sān qiū guì zǐ shí lǐ hé huā
有 三 秋 桂 子 ， 十 里 荷 花 。
There are osmanthus flowers in autumn for three months, and lotus blossoms for ten miles.

qiāng guǎn nòng qíng líng gē fàn yè
羌 管 弄 晴 ， 菱 歌 泛 夜 ，
Qiang flute plays in the clear sky,

xī xī diào sǒu lián wá
嬉 嬉 钓 叟 莲 娃 。
Lotus songs float through the night, Mirthful fishermen and lotus maidens.

qiān qí yōng gāo yá
千 骑 拥 高 牙 。
A thousand horses escort the high-ranking official.

chéng zuì tīng xiāo gǔ
乘 醉 听 箫 鼓 ，
Drunkenly listening to flutes and drums,

yín shǎng yān xiá
吟 赏 烟 霞 。
Chanting and admiring the misty clouds and rosy clouds.

yì rì tú jiāng hǎo jǐng
异 日 图 将 好 景 ，
A fine view on the day after

guī qù fèng chí kuā
归 去 凤 池 夸 。
Returning to the Phoenix Pond to boast.