Is Li Bai the same person as Li Po? Can you provide a useful link on his biography? Also, describe what makes shi a distinct form of poetry and what Chinese values can be learned from reading shi?

Li Po is not Li Bai,they are different people.You can see:

http://ks.cn.yahoo.com/question/1306111526319.html.

Shi has rules about rhythm and the nummber of the sentences and the words .I think Shi is all about describe passion.This is a confuciannism.

I hope this can be help.