Lao Shu’s Autumn in the Hills

The Other China

四季最愛秋天，紅葉黃葉滿山。
不冷不熱正好，沒事到處轉轉。

Of the four seasons, my favourite must be autumn,
when the hills are covered in variegated leaves and
the weather’s just right — not too cold nor too hot.
You don’t need a reason to get out and take it all in.

***

Lao Shu 老樹 is the nom de plume of Liu Shuyong (劉樹勇, 1962-), a Beijing-based artist, writer, critic and professor in communications. His artistic voice is unique and personal, its tenor, whimsy and profundity evoke what for decades we have called The Other China — a cultural noosphere that is as undeniably local as it is universal.

***

This is the seventh chapter in a miniseries devoted to Lao Shu’s autumn. See also:

For ‘Lao Shu’s Summer, 2026’, see the list of at the end of this chapter.

— Geremie R. Barmé
Editor, China Heritage
14 October 2026

A Sojourner in the Hills

Paintings and poems by Lao Shu

translated by Geremie R. Barmé

***

人世多麼虛幻，雲水剎那生涯。
哪裡有花亂開，哪裡就是俺家。

It’s all illusory, the human realm of ours,
like fugitive clouds and surging waters.
Wherever you may see flowers in bloom
that’s where you’ll find me: it is my home.

***

清晨起個大早，做套廣播體操。
白雲飄來飄去，濕了俺的長袍。

Arose bright and early this morn,
then followed the radio calisthenics.
White clouds meander hither, yon and
my scholar’s robe is wet with the morning dew.

***

隱士住山裡，擁梅當作妻。
何必愛草木，紅顏最知己。

The recluse living in the hills
took plum blossom as a wife.
What need for all the others when
this red-faced one knows you best?

***

朋友進山看我，請他一起洗澡。
相對不交一言，洗完下山去了。

A friend’s ventured into the hills
so I invited him to join me for a wash.
Without having exchanged a word,
he set off down the mountain.

***

四季最愛秋天，紅葉黃葉滿山。
不冷不熱正好，沒事到處轉轉。

Of the four seasons, my favourite is the autumn,
when the hills are covered in variegated leaves and
the weather’s just right — not too cold nor too hot.
You don’t need a reason to get out and take it all in.

***

兄弟難得一見，一起指點江山。
彷彿胸懷壯志，其實是在扯淡。

Rare to catch up with these buddies of mine,
and between us we set the world to rights.
Our chests heave with inspired afflatus,
though we know full well it’s all bull’s wool.

***

山中折花回，不知送給誰。
索性自己看，誰要也不給。

Picked mountain flowers to bring home
though no idea who I’ll give them to.
Maybe I’ll just keep them for myself
and no one will get them, not a one.

***

站在高山上，大風何浩蕩。
萬念一洗空，真他媽的棒。

Standing up on a mountain peak
the wind blows majestic and wild.
My myriad thoughts are scattered,
fuck, but this is a real blast.

***

就因愛看書，所以做書生。
無權也沒錢，自在又輕鬆。

It’s ’cause I love reading
that forever remain a student.
No power have I, nor money,
but I’m relaxed, at peace with myself.

***

山中夜深沈，有鳥欲投林。
怕它看不見，做個引路人。

Darkling night is lies heavy now
as birds seek a perch in the trees.
Worried they won’t find their way,
I become a guide and light their way.

***

岩下呆一天，為等一個人。
黃昏也沒到，飄來幾朵雲。

Loitered by this crag all day long
waiting for one particular person.
Even dusk has yet to turn up though
a few clouds come scudding along.

***

Source:

***

Lao Shu’s Summer, 2026

***

山深秋意總來早，岩上木葉如花好。
只怕落去總傷心，遍地寂寞誰來掃？

Deep in the mountains autumn arrives early,
leaf-laden trees blossoming on the crags.
With every leaf-fall another heartfelt pang,
untended thus who cares to sweep them up?

***

Source: