Li Bai earned the title Shixian (詩仙), meaning "Poet Immortal," because of the almost supernatural quality of his verse. His contemporaries and later critics believed his poetry transcended ordinary human craft. His writing was celebrated for its imaginative freedom, emotional directness, and visionary use of natural imagery drawn from Taoist philosophy. He is paired in Chinese literary tradition with Du Fu, who holds the title "Poet Sage" (Shisheng), together representing the two highest peaks of Tang Dynasty poetry. The "Immortal" designation reflects a belief that Li Bai wrote not just with skill, but with something resembling divine inspiration.

In Honor of Kings (Wang Zhe Rong Yao), Li Bai is one of the most iconic and highly skilled assassin heroes in the game. His in-game character merges the image of the wandering classical poet with a powerful, lightning-fast swordsman, making him a fan favorite for players who enjoy high-mobility, high-skill gameplay. His lore within the game draws on his real historical identity as a free-spirited wanderer who valued freedom above official rank. The character's visual design typically depicts him in flowing traditional Tang-era robes, often paired with a sword, echoing legends that Li Bai was also trained in swordsmanship. His popularity in the game has significantly boosted global interest in the historical figure and in collectibles like the Li Bai plush.

Li Bai wrote more than 900 surviving poems across a wide range of themes. Among his most celebrated works is Jing Ye Si (Quiet Night Thought), a short five-line poem about homesickness under moonlight that is among the most memorized poems in Chinese education. Jiang Jin Jiu (Bring in the Wine) is another widely loved piece, a passionate meditation on the pleasures of wine and the brevity of life. Wang Lu Shan Pu Bu (Gazing at the Waterfall of Lu Mountain) is praised for its breathtaking natural imagery. His friendship poems dedicated to his peer Du Fu are also treasured as some of the finest examples of classical literary companionship. These works continue to be taught in schools across China, Taiwan, and among Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.

The most enduring legend surrounding the death of Li Bai is that he drowned in the Yangtze River while drunkenly trying to embrace the reflection of the moon in the water. While historians agree he most likely died of illness around 762 AD, this mythologized account has persisted for over a thousand years because it perfectly encapsulates his poetic persona: a man so entranced by beauty, nature, and wine that he chased the moon itself into the river. The story has been retold in paintings, poems, plays, and more recently in animated media and games. It remains one of the most romanticized deaths in all of literary history and is a key reason why the Li Bai legend continues to captivate new generations worldwide.

The influence of Li Bai on modern Chinese pop culture is substantial and continues to grow. Beyond his presence in Honor of Kings, he has appeared as a character in various Chinese animated series, historical dramas, and manga-style comics. His image as a free-spirited poet-swordsman has been embraced by the Xianxia (immortal hero) and Wuxia (martial arts) fiction genres, both of which are enormously popular across streaming platforms. His name and likeness are regularly referenced in rap music, streetwear aesthetics, and internet meme culture within Chinese-speaking communities. The global spread of Chinese cultural content through platforms like Bilibili, TikTok, and Weibo has carried his story to international audiences, making Li Bai plush figures, art prints, and fan merchandise a growing niche in global collectibles markets.