Abstract: Emperor Qianlong (1711–1799) produced in his life a large number of poems and prose of extremely complex subjects, among which agriculture and livelihood hold an important position. In poems of the above subjects, we can see his worry about “sunny days and heavy rains”, his sympathy for the people’s livelihood, and his overall flood and drought disaster relief arrangement. It is of certain benefit to understand and evaluate Emperor Qianlong from various angles, and also of certain positive significance to learn about the natural climate and the people's livelihood in the 18th-century China.

Key words: Emperor Qianlong, imperial poetry, agriculture, livelihood, meaning