The Legend of the White Snake is one of China's most cherished and timeless folk tales, combining romance, tragedy and supernatural elements. Passed down through generations, it tells the intense love between Xu Xian, a human, and Bai Suzhen, a white snake spirit who has taken the form of a beautiful woman.

This act, performed by actors of the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre, depicts the scene when the couple first meets each other by the West Lake.

Bai and her sister Xiaoqing, a green snake spirit, stroll along the lake when the weather suddenly turns cloudy and rain begins to fall. Meanwhile, a young man, Xu Xian, is on a boat, holding an umbrella. Seeking shelter from the downpour, the sisters ask the boatman to stop, and they board the boat. Xu kindly offers his umbrella to the two sisters.

(All photos by CGTN's Chen Hongyu.)