Recently, the historic city of Nanjing hosted a poetry event titled “Poetic Tribute to the Yangtze: The Yangtze’s Port,” organized by the Poetry Magazine Society, the Yangtze River Culture Promotion Association, and the Jiangsu Writers Association. Local poets gathered along the banks of the Yangtze River to discuss the poetic expressions of Yangtze culture in this new era.
During the “Poetic Tribute to the Yangtze: The Yangtze’s Port” roundtable discussion on poetry creation and expansion, poets exchanged ideas from various perspectives on topics such as the poetic expression of Yangtze culture, the excavation and inheritance of Nanjing’s cultural heritage, and the balance between modernity and tradition in poetry.
Hu Xian, Vice Chairman of the Jiangsu Writers Association and Editor-in-Chief of Yangtze River Poetry Magazine, remarked that ports symbolize openness and the exploration of distant horizons. He expressed his hope that contemporary poets would infuse new vitality into the cultural symbol of the Yangtze River.
Poet Chen Weixin pointed out that “The Memories of Jinling” has been a creative theme for a thousand years. He noted that Mochou Lake, located by the Yangtze River, has long been celebrated in Jinling’s scenic spots, representing a port both literally and metaphorically for Nanjing’s culture and literature. Poet Li Qiang stressed the importance of modernity within the cultural backdrop of classical Jiangnan for contemporary writers. Huang Fan shared personal experiences from his childhood along the Yangtze, illustrating how the river’s abundant resources and flood crises have influenced both civilization and artistic creation.
He Tongbin, a critic and associate editor of Yangtze River Literary Review, emphasized the critical role of the Yangtze River system in nurturing the Jiangnan region, urging writers to produce works that resonate with the modern era. Gong Xue Ming spoke about the need for a modern consciousness when writing about the Yangtze, highlighting that this grand theme presents both opportunities and challenges for creators.
