The French poet Victor Segalen never ceased to draw from his journeys the essence of exotisme. His aim is to make up a literary outline of life and death different from the Catholic system and which regards vitality and ideal life as core values. Through the analysis of Segalen's literary works, correspondences and travel journals, and by taking into consideration the writer's own experiences, this essay aims to discuss in which way the natural landscape and the cultural signification of the earth and rivers of China inspire his reflection on vitality, and in which manner the earth and rivers get to blend with his cultural background from the West to show a personal touch in his literary images.