English song promotion seen online by millions

I once dreamed a poet called Li

Wrote a poem on my skin

But I didn't know how to read it

So I traveled to find him

......

An English-language music video featuring tourism attractions in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province in Northwest China and home of the Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, has spread widely online and attracted millions of viewers.

The video, which runs for 5 minutes and 22 seconds, shows the ancient Daming Palace tower, Beilin calligraphy and Xi'an's Bell and Drum Towers, among many other typical scenes, set to the soft voice of popular Shanghai singer Huo Zun.

Titled A Poem of Tang, the song is the first official English-language promotion by the Xi'an tourism administration bureau.

The narrator of the song is a foreigner who heard of a country in the East when he was young and dreams of "a poet called Li". He journeys to Xi'an, previously called Chang'an and the capital of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD) to search for Li Bai (701 - 762 AD), who was one of the greatest poets of the Tang Dynasty.

The video shows his search and his encounters with city residents, interspersed with local scenes in a beautifully produced work. The lyrics follow his journey, as he hears the Bell Tower ring, passes temples and experiences the daily life of the city.

"Xi'an released its first English song to promote its tourism and the song made me cry for its beautiful melodies," was one comment made online.

Xiao Yu, director of the international promotion office of the Xi'an tourism administration bureau, the bureau cooperated with local songwriter Chen Tian to create the song.

"We required that the song should show the culture and natural scenery as well as the customs of Xi'an, and it should be an English song for promotion at home and abroad," Xiao said.

Chen said, "I wrote the song in English with a Chinese style as I think it is more receptive for foreigners."

Near the end of the song, which the foreign narrator describes as "A poem written for the Tang", he comes across a man who resembles the one he is seeking.

......

I saw a man wear white in the rain

Just like the poet in my dream

Contact the writers through malie@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/22/2015 page12)