Preface: Zhou Mu Wang was the fifth ruler of the Western Zhou Dynasty in China, ruling for 55 years, making him the longest reigning Zhou emperor. Legend has it that he was a keen traveler and was one of the most mythologically rich emperors in Chinese history. When the roads between the Central Plains and the Western Regions were clear and unobstructed, Zhou Mu Wang made a grand tour to the West, which led to the beautiful legend of Zhou Mu Wang and the Xi Wang Mu (the first of the goddesses in Chinese mythology). It is said that this is a legend based on facts.
Long ago, Zhou Mu Wang rode in a luxurious chariot pulled by eight horses, driven by the top charioteer Zao Fu, with numerous guards, they proudly advanced eastward along the Wei River.
On the way, he caught a white fox and a black raccoon dog to sacrifice to the river god.
When the caravan reached the magical river, the Weak Water, where even feathers would sink, the fish, turtles, crocodiles, and other creatures in the river voluntarily swam to the surface and formed a long bridge for Mu Wang’s caravan to safely cross.
After crossing the Yellow River, Mu Wang continued north, along the western side of the Taihang Mountains, until he reached the foot of the Yin Mountains, and then turned west.
Passing through the Kunlun Mountains, and traveling thousands of miles westward, he arrived at a beautiful and extraordinary country, the realm of the Xi Wang Mu.
The Xi Wang Mu, with hair as beautiful as clouds, wearing a magnificent leopard-tail-style dress, held a grand banquet for Mu Wang at the Jade Pool.
Mu Wang gave the Xi Wang Mu many special products and beautiful silks from the Central Plains, and she gifted him many local treasures in return, and also took him to tour famous mountains and rivers.
Mu Wang inscribed “Mountain of the Xi Wang Mu” on the mountain and planted a locust tree as a memento.
At the farewell, the Xi Wang Mu held a banquet for Mu Wang and sang, “White clouds float in the blue sky, mountains and rivers are naturally beautiful. Our paths are far apart, separated by countless mountains. Wish you a long life, and look forward to meeting again.”
Mu Wang also sang, “The road back to the homeland is long, the country needs to be stabilized. When all the people are happy, I will embark on a new journey. Before long, we will part, but we will meet again soon.”
According to historical records, this moving story is not fictional.
Zhou Mu Wang traveled more than 12,000 li from Hao Capital to the realm of the Xi Wang Mu.
Scholars speculate that based on the distance mentioned in the story, the realm of the Xi Wang Mu may be located in West Asia or Europe.
通过阅读中国神话、民间故事、历史典故、人物传记学汉语，简单易学，中英对照，适合初学者！
Learning Chinese through reading Chinese mythology, folk stories, historical allusions, and biographies is easy to learn and bilingual, suitable for beginners!