From
崔颢《
黄鹤楼》(Cui Hao, Tang, early 8th c., on the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang):
昔人已乘黄鹤去，
此地空余黄鹤楼。
黄鹤一去不复返，
白云千载空悠悠 (The ancient has already ridden the yellow crane away; in this place only the Yellow Crane Tower is left. The yellow crane once gone will not return; white clouds for a thousand years drift emptily on). Famously called by Ming critic Yan Yu 'the greatest seven-character poem of the Tang.' Li Bai is said to have visited the tower, read Cui's poem, and refused to write his own — legend records him saying
眼前有景道不得，
崔颢题诗在上头 (A sight before my eyes I cannot describe — Cui Hao's poem is up above).
