The air in Jiangyou, Sichuan, vibrates with recited verses as a nine-year-old’s clear voice delivers Li Bai’s "Quiet Night Thoughts." This simple recitation, radiating pure emotion, captures the essence of the "Li Bai Calls You for a Poetry Showdown" festival unfolding in the great poet’s birthplace.
Orchestrated by the China Media Group under guidance from the Chinese Poetry Association and Jiangyou’s Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, this grand celebration transcends mere competition. It’s a nationwide awakening to classical poetry’s enduring power, inviting everyone—from seasoned scholars to curious children—to rediscover the beauty of Tang Dynasty verse within Jiangyou’s deeply poetic landscape. The festival weaves together fierce poetic challenges, creative expression, and immersive cultural tourism, proving Li Bai’s spirit is very much alive in modern China.
Where Poetry Lives
Jiangyou’s Li Bai Memorial, the festival’s vibrant heart, buzzes from dawn. Long queues form early, gathering silver-haired couples, eager children, delivery riders in uniform, sanitation workers, and Hanfu-clad youth. They debate Li Bai’s meter and imagery, their shared passion transforming the space into a living library of verse, the very air thick with literary anticipation.
Inside, the energy crescendos. Participants dive into intense "Flower Passing Challenges", battling wits using keywords like "moon" or "wine." Other zones test knowledge through "Immortal Keywords" or "Famous Line Challenges," each correct recitation met with cheers, turning scholarly pursuit into communal celebration.
Even festival peripheries brim with poetic fervor. The photo zone sees snaking lines as attendees pose with "I'm Poetry Mad!" signs beside a Li Bai figure. These instant social media shares broadcast the joy far beyond Jiangyou’s borders, making poetry palpably trendy.
Running until July 20th with daily sessions (10am-12pm, 3pm-5:30pm), the event welcomes all ages and backgrounds. Participants depart not just with memories, but tangible rewards like e-certificates, free scenic area tickets, and bespoke gifts, embodying the tangible perks of poetic engagement.
Beyond Recitation
While the core competition thrills, three parallel creative contests amplify the festival’s reach. The "Zui Li Bai" Poetry Creation contest calls for new classical or modern poems infused with Li Bai’s spirit or life story. It demands fresh interpretations of the master’s legacy.
The Li Bai Talent Showcase encourages dynamic interpretations. Participants submit videos featuring recitations, song, dance, calligraphy, or dramatic scenes inspired by his works. This multidimensional approach celebrates poetry as a living, performative art form.
Complementing these, the "Poetic Journey Jiangyou" video contest urges exploration. Filmmakers capture Jiangyou’s beauty—Tai Bai’s Forest of Stone Tablets, Douchuan Mountain—in 1-3 minute creative shorts, using AR effects, historical reenactments, or dance. Entries flow through the festival’s dedicated WeChat mini-program, with a Douyin (TikTok) channel launching soon.
Verse Meets Adventure
The festival’s magic extends beyond traditional stages. Starting July 18th, "Poetry and Wine in Youth: Taibai Script Murder" offers a groundbreaking immersive experience. Participants scan a code to become "Young Li Bai," embarking on a quest guided by a "Poetry Immortal Secret Scroll."
This real-world adventure spans nine key cultural sites, including Li Bai’s former residence and Douchuan Mountain. Challenges abound: solving a celestial wine theft at the Memorial, reciting verses atop precipitous cliffs. Poetry Flower Passing duels test skill throughout the journey.
Successfully collecting fragments representing Li Bai’s core elements—"Poetry," "Wine," "Sword"—earns players the coveted "Taibai Order" medal and exquisite gifts. This gamification cleverly transforms cultural heritage into thrilling, interactive discovery.
A Jiangyou Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department official noted, this festival is more than a contest; it’s an innovative "event + tourism + communication" model revitalizing Li Bai’s legacy. It crafts tangible, immersive experiences, seamlessly weaving the threads of classical poetry into the vibrant fabric of contemporary Chinese life, ensuring the Poet Immortal’s voice resonates powerfully for generations to come.
