According to Che Yangao, a famous poet of Hubei province, Li's birthplace is hardly important; what is of greater interest is the evolution of his romantic poems. Che, who has spent years researching Li, is currently writing a series of articles on Li Bai in October, a literary magazine.

"If you examine Li Bai's life carefully, you will find a close connection between him and Hubei," says Che.

When he was 25, Li sailed down the Yangtze, embarking on the first of his many river trips. He then turned back to central China, met Xu Yushi, the retired prime minister, married his daughter, and settled down in Anlu.

Li Bai Memorial Museum in Jiangyou

The Anlu period of his life is considered the one having the most influence on his poetry and prose. He wrote more than 150 poems during this period, with 62 of them carrying descriptions of Hubei province. In fact, there are many historical indications of Li's hometown. One famous one comes from one of his poems, in which he describes himself as an ancient hermit of the Chu Kingdom, which occupied most of what is today's Hubei province.

The fight for the title of Li's hometown is just one example of disputes concerning celebrity figures in recent years. These disputes reflect the competition for tourist resources and branding, says Che.

"The controversy surrounding Jiangyou and Anlu actually shows that people are engaged with Chinese culture. Li Bai is the pride of all Chinese people. Irrespective of whether you are from Jiangyou or Anlu, what is important is the culture associated with Li Bai," he says.

By Zhou Lihua

Editor: Feng Hui