At the farewell banquet he quoted 'drain one more cup - west of Yang Pass, no old friends remain.'
Tips
history
From 王维《送元二使安西》 (Wang Wei, Tang, 8th c., seeing off Yuan Er on a mission to Anxi in the Western Regions): 渭城朝雨浥轻尘，客舍青青柳色新。劝君更尽一杯酒，西出阳关无故人 (Morning rain in Weicheng has settled the light dust; the guesthouse willows are fresh and green again. Let me urge you to drink one more cup - once you pass west of Yang Pass there will be no old friends). Set to music as 《阳关三叠》 (Yangguan Three Variations), it became the standard farewell song for over a thousand years.
usage
Always recited with 西出阳关无故人 ('once past Yang Pass, no old friend'). 更 here is gèng 'further, one more,' not gēng. Still sung today in classical Chinese music performance and quoted at any airport goodbye.
