Oh lofty!Oh steep!
Hard is the road to Shu harder than climbing the sky!
Ancient kings Can Cong and Yu Fu their reign lost in time!
Forty-eight thousand years no link with Qin’s frontier
West of Taibai only birds cross to Emei’s peak
Mountains crumbled heroes died;stone ladders and bridges connected high
Above six dragons turn back the sun’s chariot;
Below wild waves twist and run
Even yellow cranes can’t fly past;
Apes dare not climb their hearts cast down
Green Mud Ridge winds and bends nine turns each hundred steps
Touching stars I gasp hand on chest sighing deep
When will you return from the west my friend
Dangerous cliffs no path to mend
Only sad birds cry in old trees
Males leading females through the breeze
Cuckoos wail under moonlit night
Filling empty hills with endless plight
Hard is the road to Shu harder than climbing the sky!
Hearing this rosy cheeks turn pale and dry
Peaks scrape the sky no span between;
Withered pines cling to cliffs unseen
Torrent and waterfall roar loud
Stones crash thunder shakes the crowd
Such peril!Why come from far dear stranger proud
Jian’ge Pass stands rugged steep and high;
One man guards it ten thousand can’t pass by
If the guard is not true
He’ll turn to wolf and foe
By day flee tigers;by night snakes lurk
They grind teeth suck blood kill like stalks of work
Jincheng may bring joy but better to return home quick
Hard is the road to Shu harder than climbing the sky!
I turn west gaze and sigh long and high