A famous piece of Chinese literature is now available in English. The book is A Hero Born, the first volume in Chinese martial arts novelist Jin Yong's Legends of the Condor Heroes series. His novels have also been adapted into comics. Our reporter Mao Dan caught up with a Hong Kong artist who began creating comic book versions of Jin's works over two decades ago.

Lee Chi Ching started his career as an illustrator. He soon became a comic artist and devoted himself to adapting Jin Yong's Wuxia novels. He was greatly encouraged in his work by the author Louis Cha.

LEE CHI CHING HONG KONG ARTIST "It was in 1995, a Japanese publisher invited me to draw illustrations for the Japanese version of Jin Yong's Works. After that, I decided to start my own company and focused on Wuxia comics. I showed Mr. Cha a few drafts of the several characters. He was very satisfied with my work and encouraged me to start right away. I spent four years doing the comics Legend of the Condor Heroes, published in monthly issues. And then I also did the comics The Smiling Proud Wanderer."

The comic books sold well, but depicting the characters and telling the stories through pictures was no easy job.

LEE CHI CHING HONG KONG ARTIST "You have to keep in mind the different characters and the storyline. These are two aspects that you cannot change. It's different from movie adaptations. In comics, if you change one part of a plot, the stories will be totally different. What we did was visualize the fights and the animals, like eagles, condors, and sharks. For the characters, I focused more on their spirit than costumes. I wanted classic images that wouldn't be outdated in ten or twenty years."

Like the original novels, the comic versions gained wide popularity across Asia and Europe. They have been translated into Japanese, Thai, Korean, English and French.

LEE CHI CHING HONG KONG ARTIST "Mr. Cha is a man of wisdom and he's very hard working. I once asked about his motto. He said 'whatever you do, go with all your heart and effort'. I think that's why he was so successful as a translator, an essayist, an editor and even in founding a daily newspaper. He is an inspiring figure in my life."

Now in his fifties and having been doing Wuxia comics for more than two decades, Lee Chi Ching wants to move one step forward to integrate Wuxia elements into Chinese ink painting. He believes the martial art moves could highlight the tranquility of the traditionally static and peaceful scenes.

MAO DAN HONG KONG "Jin Yong's wuxia novels are regarded as the finest of its kind. Any translation or adaptation would be challenging. But Lee's comics prove that if you understand the core essence of wuxia, you will know how to do it right. MD, CGTN, HK."