Liyue (Chinese: 璃月 Líyuè) is one of the seven nations in Teyvat. It is the city-state that worships Morax, the Geo Archon.
Archon Quests Chapter 1: Of the Land Amidst Monoliths takes place in this region.
Dainsleif says this about Liyue in the Teyvat Chapter Storyline Preview:[1]
"The God of Contracts, senselessly slaughtered as his people watched on in horror. In the end, he will sign the contract to end all contracts."
Contents
Description
A bountiful harbor that lies in the east of Teyvat. Mountains stand tall and proud alongside the stone forest, that, together with the open plains and lively rivers, make up Liyue's bountiful landscape, which shows its unique beauty through each of the four seasons. Just how many gifts from the Geo God lie in wait amongst the rocks of Liyue's mountains?
Genshin Impact Official Website[2]
History
Liyue is the oldest of the seven nations in Teyvat, established 3,700 years ago when Morax signed a contract with the Adepti to protect Liyue Harbor.
Long before the establishment of Liyue Harbor, when many gods roamed the lands of Teyvat and before The Seven took their positions, numerous settlements existed in the lands that would become Liyue. During this time, Morax ruled alongside the God of Dust, Guizhong, in the land now known as Guili Plains. This civilization prospered under their joint rule and with the protection of the adepti.
However, when the Archon War broke out, this settlement met its end during a fierce battle that ended with Guizhong's death, while the region now known as Dihua Marsh was turned from a fertile field into a swamp. Morax took their people south of Mt. Tianheng and established Liyue Harbor, where it continues to stand to this day. To protect this new city, Morax forged a contract with the adepti to protect it and waged war against other gods. Between the subjugation of other gods such as Osial, Azhdaha, The Chi of Qingce, and Havria, Morax eventually became the victor in Liyue and took his place among The Seven as the Geo Archon.
Nevertheless, Liyue was under the havoc of many evil beings. Miasma, vengeful gods that were slain during the war, and monsters that manifested from the anger of demons plagued the land. To combat these perils, Morax summoned five Yakshas to vanquish these dangers. It is depicted that each Yaksha represented a certain element of Teyvat. Unfortunately, three fell under the demise of karma and fear after years of ensued bloodshed. Some went against each other, and others succumbed to evil themselves. Only one of the Yakshas survived, while the other disappeared without a trace.
Once a year, Morax officially descends during the Rite of Descension, during which he graces his people with his prophecies and gives guidance on Liyue's economic path for the following year. Everyday affairs are handled by the Liyue Qixing, the Eight Trades, and the Millelith.
Travel Highlights
A Merchant's Memory of Liyue
When I received the invitation from the Merchant and Adventurers' Guilds of Liyue to write a piece on Liyue Harbor, I hesitated for a long time before finally embracing the challenge. Sure, I have been running a caravan around Teyvat with my father for as long as I can remember. Those born and raised in Liyue aside, there is no-one in Teyvat who knows every route in and out of Liyue as well as I. With that said, I've met my share of exceptional poets and writers on the road, and I would never consider myself a writer of their caliber. Therefore, I'm afraid I must apologize in advance for my lack of literary ability to write a real page-turner. So, please bear with me.
Even when I was young, Liyue Harbor, the greatest trading port in all of Teyvat, already meant wealth and prosperity to everyone in our caravan. I remember, back then, every time when the children heard the caravan was going to Liyue, they'd beg for a place in the caravan. Though it was a long time ago, the memory of the bustling streets, noisy crowds, and the wonders lying on the shop shelves are all still so vivid to me. I can still remember the mysterious and enticing scents calling out to me from the snack stalls.
When I came of age, I was entrusted with the family business. I then led the caravan between all the major cities across Teyvat. As the world opened up to me, Liyue also became a lot more to me than just the port I used to run around barefoot in as a kid.
From my understanding of Liyue Harbor's history, I can dare to make a bold conclusion on just how Liyue came to be so rich. Just as any other prosperous city in Teyvat, Liyue's prosperity came from its geographic advantages. Liyue is a harbor city surrounded by mountains on three sides. Beyond the mountains inland, there are vast foothills, plains, fords, and abundant mines full of precious ores. These ores are harvested and made into exquisite crafts at the hands of skilled craftsmen. The founding of the harbor and the establishment of the sea routes were instrumental in popularizing Liyue's commercial trade, as it was the export of crafts that laid the initial foundation for Liyue's financial development. Even now, Liyue's exquisite crafts are still prized by people across the continent.
After all these years, the sea routes leading into Liyue are now very well established. Trade vessel is the ideal travel method for anyone wanting to conduct business in Liyue. However, for common travelers and tourists, the land routes are recommended for a richer sightseeing experience as opposed to being on the great blue for prolonged periods of time.
Due to the complex terrain surrounding Liyue, the most common route there by land starts out from Mondstadt's Dawn Winery, then heads southwest. The route takes travelers through Mondstadt's signature landscapes. Enjoy some locally-grown fruit from Mondstadt on the way, and when the open plains are replaced by mountains and lakes, you'll be nearing Mondstadt's border.
Follow the edge of the lake west, and you will see two towering cliffs, serving as a natural boundary that separates Liyue and Mondstadt, with a narrow passage in between them paved with wooden planks. On the rare occasions that I pass through this way, I'm usually focused on getting through as quickly as possible. Though on one occasion I found myself traveling alongside an elderly fisherman. Along the way he covered a wide range of topics, from the identification of different species of river fish, to the ancient legends of Liyue. He said, the lakes in the gorge were blessed water bodies set by Rex Lapis and therefore stopping there may bring you closer to the Archons.
I used to laugh superstitious beliefs off, but my vivacious romanticist of a wife believed what he said. Ever since then, my caravan would rest here for a bit before continuing on, in the hopes of receiving blessings from the gods.
After passing through Stone Gate, the view opens up, revealing the classic outskirt views of Liyue: bodies of water reflecting the skies, and patches of green plants jut out from between shoals and fords. Far in the distance in Dihua Marsh is Wangshu Inn, which sits on top of a giant stone pillar, serving as a landmark for caravans passing through the region. Some foreign traders conduct their business with the local merchants right there, while others rest a bit and gather some trade info before continuing on to Liyue Harbor.
It would probably take a whole book for me to write down every little thing about my past experiences with Liyue from my youth to this day, so I'll stop right here. I don't really know how to conclude things, so I guess I'll just say this: I hope I am remembered by some that I've met out on the road.
P.S. Many thanks to the Merchant and Adventurers' Guilds for giving me a chance to relive my beautiful memories of Liyue. I'd also like to thank my wife, Claire, for her help in infusing some much-needed vitality into my otherwise dull and poor writing.[3]
Festivals
Lantern Rite Festival
The Lantern Rite (Chinese: 海灯节) celebrates fallen heroes from Liyue's history. It is celebrated on the first full moon of the first month each year, and lasts five days.
Moonchase Festival
The Moonchase Festival (Chinese: 逐月节) is a festival celebrated in Liyue. Nothing is currently known about it, but it is planned as a future in-game event.[4]
Areas
| Name | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Liyue Harbor | The establishment of the harbor kicked off Liyue's seafaring trade. As Teyvat's largest market harbor, the sheer amount of goods that flow to and from it is simply incomparable for other ports. Every year during the Lantern Rite you can see thousands of lanterns ascend into the night sky — a Liyue event that you can't afford to miss. |
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| Mt. Tianheng | The pride of the mountain range that shelters Liyue Harbor from the west, acting as a natural shield against any enemies that may come that way. There are uncountable records of wars both big and small whereby enemies have been blocked by this barrier. As such you can still see ancient ruins of city walls, forts, and defensive structures. |
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| Dihua Marsh | A wetland area north of Liyue, gets its name from the silvergrass ("dihua" in the local language) that grows in the shallows of the marsh. The scrambling web of rivers has grown into a flourishing and widespread ecosystem full of flora and fauna — an awe-inspiring sight for travelers to the area. |
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| Wangshu Inn | A landmark within Dihua Marsh, built upon a massive stone pillar. As most of the patrons that stop here are traveling merchants, the inn provides an area for them to trade and set up stalls. The view from the top of the inn is jaw-dropping — weather permitting you can see all the way to Mt. Qingce and Jueyunjian in the distance. |
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| Qingce Village | At the northernmost point of Liyue, hidden between the hills and the bamboo forests sits Qingce Village. White rolling clouds that sit in the valleys between the mountains are embellished with row upon row of crescent-moon water paddies. |
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| Jueyun Karst | Dizzying peaks that sit shrouded in mist and clouds in the northwest of Liyue. The area hides many stunning views, but owing to tracks found on the complex paths leading up the peaks, a legend has formed that the hidden home of the Adepti lies somewhere in the area. Though another factor may simply be the hopes of those that seek blessings from the Adepti. |
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Characters
Playable characters
13 Characters match the category selection:
| Icon | Name | Rarity | Element | Weapon | Sex | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Beidou |
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 Electro
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 Claymore
|
Female | Liyue |
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Chongyun |
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 Cryo
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Claymore
|
Male | Liyue |
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Ganyu |
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Cryo
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 Bow
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Female | Liyue |
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Hu Tao |
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 Pyro
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 Polearm
|
Female | Liyue |
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Keqing |
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Electro
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 Sword
|
Female | Liyue |
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Ningguang |
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 Geo
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 Catalyst
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Female | Liyue |
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Qiqi |
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Cryo
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Sword
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Female | Liyue |
|
Xiangling |
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Pyro
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Polearm
|
Female | Liyue |
|
Xiao |
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 Anemo
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Polearm
|
Male | Liyue |
|
Xingqiu |
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 Hydro
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Sword
|
Male | Liyue |
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Xinyan |
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Pyro
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Claymore
|
Female | Liyue |
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Yanfei |
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Pyro
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Catalyst
|
Female | Liyue |
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Zhongli |
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Geo
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Polearm
|
Male | Liyue |
Upcoming characters
No Results
Mentioned characters
3 Characters match the category selection:
| Icon | Name | Rarity | Element | Weapon | Sex | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Baizhu |  Dendro
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Male | Liyue | ||
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Yaoyao | Female | Liyue | |||
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Yunjin | Female | Liyue |
Regions
Trivia
- Liyue is inspired by China.
- Liyue (璃月 Líyuè) means "Lapis Lazuli/Precious Stone Moon" or "Glazed/Glass Moon" in Chinese. In addition to those two, Mihoyo has also offered "Jade Moon" as a viable translation, using the radical of 玉 (jade) in Liyue's Li 璃.
- Liyue's Li (璃) can be decomposed into 王 wáng, "king" and 离 lí, "departure", which is the same li found in Zhongli's name in Simplified Chinese. The yue (月) in Liyue can also mean "month," therefore, Liyue's name could possibly have a secondary meaning: "The Month of the King's Departure," which bears striking similarity to a possible interpretation of Zhongli's name ("time of departure").
- Liyue is said to be an economical center (similar to many port cities in China).
- Liyue is the most prosperous of the seven nations.
- In An Organization Known as Wangsheng, Zhongli mentions that Liyue has 3,700 years' worth of history. Ganyu also corroborates that Liyue was founded exactly 3,700 years ago.
Gallery
References
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