Berikut adalah salah satu bagian yang terkenal dari "Balada Tua Chang'an" atau "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" (长恨歌, Cháng Hèn Gē) karya Bai Juyi (白居易). Karena puisi ini cukup panjang, berikut adalah bagian pembukanya yang sangat terkenal:
Balada Tua Chang'an (长恨歌 - Cháng Hèn Gē)
汉皇重色思倾国，
御宇多年求不得。
杨家有女初长成，
养在深闺人未识。
天生丽质难自弃，
一朝选在君王侧。
回眸一笑百媚生，
六宫粉黛无颜色。
春寒赐浴华清池，
温泉水滑洗凝脂。
侍儿扶起娇无力，
始是新承恩泽时。
云鬓花颜金步摇，
芙蓉帐暖度春宵。
春宵苦短日高起，
从此君王不早朝。
---
Balada Tua Chang'an (Song of Everlasting Sorrow)
The Emperor of Han, captivated by beauty,
Searched for a matchless woman for many years without success.
In the Yang family, a girl grew up,
Sheltered in her chambers, unknown to the world.
Born with natural beauty hard to give up,
She was chosen one day to attend the Emperor.
One glance back with a smile, a hundred charms arose,
All the ladies of the palace lost their color.
In the spring chill, she was granted a bath at Huaqing Pool,
The smooth, warm spring water washed her creamy skin.
Attendants helped her rise, tender and weak,
This was the time she first received the Emperor's favor.
Her cloud-like hair adorned with flowers and golden hairpins,
In the warmth of the lotus-flower tent, they spent spring nights.
Spring nights were too short, the sun rose high,
From then on, the Emperor held no morning court.