Meet Ma Baoli, the “Poetic Captain” of China Southern Airlines

Ma Baoli, a captain with China Southern Airlines in Dalian, Liaoning Province, has become an unexpected celebrity for his love of classical Chinese poetry. The moniker “poetic captain” has been given to him by many passengers who have enjoyed his recitation of ancient poems during flights.

Instead of simply remarking on the beauty of a scene, Ma recites poetry. For example, while flying over the Yellow River, he recites the verse: “Do you not see the Yellow River come from the sky, rushing into the sea, and never come back?” When flying over the Yangtze River, he recites: “Wave after wave, the Yangtze River roars east, sweeping away with it all our heroes.”

Ma’s passion for poetry has garnered him a lot of attention from passengers, who often share their positive experiences on social media. His recitations have become something of a trademark for him and have helped to create a unique and memorable experience for those flying with China Southern Airlines.

When conditions permit, Ma shares his poetry with passengers via captain’s announcements. The poems serve as a way to connect with passengers, to share a love of Chinese culture, and to help pass the time on long flights. Ma’s unique approach to his job has helped to create a loyal following of passengers who seek out his flights.

Ma’s passion for poetry is rooted in his love of Chinese culture. He believes that poetry is a way to connect with the past and to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese history and tradition. He hopes that by sharing his love of poetry with passengers, he can help to foster a greater appreciation for Chinese culture.

Ma’s success as a “poetic captain” has not gone unnoticed by his employer, China Southern Airlines. They have recognized the value that Ma’s unique approach brings to their brand and have encouraged him to continue to share his love of poetry with passengers. Ma’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of finding joy in one’s work and of the power of creativity to create unique and memorable experiences.

Ma Baoli’s passion for poetry has helped him to soar to unexpected celebrity status as a “poetic captain” with China Southern Airlines. His love of Chinese culture and tradition has inspired him to share his passion with passengers and to create a unique and memorable experience for those flying with the airline. Ma’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of finding joy in one’s work and of the power of creativity to make a positive impact on others.

Ma expresses his amazement at how the poets of ancient China could capture the magnificence of nature in their writings without ever having flown to such heights. He believes that classical poetry is the most beautiful language in the world and has been a constant companion throughout his life.

In early February, Ma won first place in the Chinese Poetry Conference, a popular poetry-themed quiz show jointly launched by the China Media Group and the Ministry of Education. This was the second time he had participated in the show as a contestant since 2019.

Ma’s love of poetry is so great that he finds it difficult to put down a book of poems once he starts reading it. He compares it to the way people these days get addicted to scrolling through short videos on social media. Unlike many others, Ma does not have short-video apps installed on his phone but instead fills his free time with poetry.

Born in 1988 in rural Pizhou, East China’s Jiangsu province, Ma’s childhood was filled with the artistic expressions of his father. His father, who struggled to provide for the family through farming and fishing, used to paint on the white walls of their house and write poems to match the paintings.

Ma’s exposure to poetry at an early age helped to cultivate his love for it. He sees it as a way to connect with Chinese culture and tradition, which he hopes to share with others. Winning first place in the Chinese Poetry Conference not only highlights his personal achievements but also serves as a way to inspire others to explore the beauty of classical Chinese poetry.

Ma’s success in the poetry competition and his unique approach to being a pilot have made him a celebrity in his own right. His story serves as a reminder of the power of passion and creativity to create unique and memorable experiences and to inspire others to find joy in their own lives.

Ma attributes his love for classical poetry to his father’s influence. He fondly remembers watching his father paint on the walls of their home and recite poems that matched the paintings. These experiences planted the seed of his love for ancient poetry, which has been a constant companion throughout his life.

The poems also inspired him to pursue his dream of “reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles.” As a senior middle school student, he watched a TV play about airlines and pilots that sparked his interest in flying. Ma saw becoming a pilot as a way to achieve his dream of traveling ten thousand miles and matching the speed and altitude of flight with his soul’s desire to read ten thousand books.

In 2007, Ma was admitted to the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where he pursued his passion for aviation. After graduation, he joined the Dalian branch of China Southern Airlines. He steadily rose through the ranks and was promoted to captain in 2016. In 2020, he became a flight instructor, helping to pass on his knowledge and passion to the next generation of pilots.

Ma has found ways to integrate his love for poetry into his daily work. As a flight instructor, he has developed a series of lessons called “poetry on safety,” which he delivers in poetic form to make the information more memorable. During flights, he occasionally recites poems to passengers about the places they are flying over, enhancing their experience and connecting them to the beauty of Chinese culture.

Ma’s unique approach to his work as a pilot and flight instructor has earned him the nickname “poetic captain.” His passion for poetry and aviation serves as an inspiration to others, demonstrating how pursuing one’s interests can lead to a fulfilling and rewarding career. He hopes to continue sharing his love for classical poetry and Chinese culture with others, encouraging them to explore the beauty of the world around them.
Ma Baoli, a pilot with the Dalian branch of China Southern Airlines, has become a celebrity due to his passion for poetry. Ma recites ancient Chinese poetry when he sees beautiful views while flying. He is known as the “poetic captain” for this unique habit. Ma won first place in the Chinese Poetry Conference, a popular poetry-themed quiz show jointly launched by the China Media Group and the Ministry of Education, and broadcasted nationwide.

For Ma, classical poetry is the most beautiful language in the world. “I like reading poetry in my spare time. Once I pick up a book of poetry, I can’t put it down,” says Ma. Ma’s love for poetry began in his childhood when his father, who struggled to feed the family through farming and fishing, used to paint on the white walls of their house and write poems to match the paintings. “I enjoyed watching my father do these things and listening to him recite poems. It planted the seed of loving ancient poetry in my heart,” recalls Ma.

Ma’s interest in flying was sparked when he watched a TV play about airlines and pilots when he was a senior middle school student. He made up his mind to become a pilot. He joined the Dalian branch of China Southern Airlines after graduating from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was promoted to captain in 2016 and became a flight instructor in 2020. Ma has integrated his passion for poetry into his daily work.

While instructing pilots about flight safety, he developed a series of lessons called “poetry on safety,” delivering the knowledge in poetic form to make them unforgettable. While traveling through the sky, he occasionally recites poems to passengers about the places they are flying over after broadcasting basic flight information.

Ma surprised the passengers aboard a China Southern Airlines flight from Dalian to Guangzhou with a poetic broadcast on Feb 4. “At the end of the year, when there’s little frost, spring returns. Trees and grass are the first to know when spring comes. The world in front of my eyes is filled with life. The east wind blows and the water ripples,” Ma recited through the speaker. His poetic broadcasts and his performances on the poetry show have won him many fans. On social networking platform Sina Weibo, people expressed their admiration for Ma and their wish to hear his poetic broadcasts on his flights.

Ma believes that his popularity is due to the Chinese people’s love for traditional culture and their enthusiasm for poetry. He says that many Chinese people have a special feeling for poetry, which has become a part of their everyday lives. In fact, even Ma’s family has embraced poetry as a way of life.

Ma’s daughters, aged 6 and 9, are also fond of poetry and traditional Chinese culture. They have been brought up in an environment where poetry recitation is a common occurrence. During the poetry show, Ma’s wife and daughters showed their support by participating in the program and getting on stage with him.

For Ma, Chinese classical poetry and traditional culture have brought him a wonderful experience, and he hopes that his children can feel the same way. He wants to pass on his love for poetry and traditional culture to the next generation and inspire them to appreciate the beauty of the Chinese language.

Ma’s passion for poetry and his ability to integrate it into his work as a pilot have made him a role model for many Chinese people. He has shown that it is possible to pursue one’s passion and incorporate it into daily life, regardless of one’s profession.

Through his poetry broadcasts on flights and his performances on the poetry show, Ma has gained a wide following on social media. His fans express their admiration for him and their wish to hear his poetic broadcasts on his flights. Ma’s popularity has demonstrated the enduring appeal of traditional Chinese culture, especially poetry, to the Chinese people.