This photo taken on Sunday, August 2, 2009 shows a portrait of the famous poet Li Bai in Tang Dynasty and his poem about 'Peacock Flies to Southeast', a well-known lyric poem in ancient China's South Dynasty. [CRI]

Although no clear evidence exists that the heroine in 'The Peacocks Fly to Southeast', a well-known lyric poem from ancient China's Southern Song Dynasty (420-589), was a real-life person, people in Xiaoshi Town in east China's Anhui Province, believe the woman's tragic marital tale was true and occurred there more than 1,400 years ago.

This poem tells a tragic love story that took place during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). The poem is set during the Jian'an Period of the dynasty. A girl named Liu Lanzhi from a common family married Jiao Zhongqing, who grew up in a well-known official family that was in decline at the time. Although they loved each other, they were broken up by both families due to difference in family status. Liu Lanzhi was dispossessed from the family by her mother-in-law and then forced by her elder brother to remarry. Finally, the couple chose to commit suicide.

That was a tragedy. But locals in Xiaoshi Town of Anqing city are absolutely proud of the moving love story, since they have done a lot for the couple forlorn of all hope. In recent years, this ancient romance has inspired a transformation in the town. A new Peacock Stage, a memorial park and a 30-mln-yuan themed movie and TV base have all been built there.