Usually when we try to introduce a city to visitors, we will give a quick description of the highlights of the city’s history, including some of the important people who have lived there. But things are little bit different in Yangzhou. The poet, who brought fame to Yangzhou without any idea of doing so, only mentioned its name in a line of poetry--- to see my friend leave for Yangzhou in rainy and flowery April. His name, as you might already know, is Libai, the most notable poet in Chinese history, and the poem was a farewell to his good friend Meng Haoyan, who also was a famous poet.

It is really hard to find out when that poem became well-known through out China. But taking into account the two poets’ fame, I assume it might have become popular soon after it was written. In modern times, it is included in primary school textbooks, And that means every educated person in China has studied and recited it.

No wonder then since 2002, the Tourist Festival of Yangzhou has been described as “flowery April” festival. Each year, April 18th is the day of the opening ceremony. Usually there will be a splendid display of fireworks. Some people may call this a waste of money and a cause of pollution to the environment, but as it is only an annual thing, the damage is quite limited. Anyway it is a Chinese tradition to let off fireworks at big events. And there is a coincidence.Yanhua in yang hua san yue (rainy and flowery April ) can also mean fireworks.

So tonight I will go out with friends to enjoy the beauty of the fireworks.

Enjoy your time too.