Xiqu

The White Snake is a folk story known by every household. The white snake and green snake have been practising magic in fairyland for a millennium. As both are interested to experience the mortal world, they transform themselves into commoners Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing. Suzhen meets scholar Xu Xian at West Lake in Hangzhou and falls in love. Xiaoqing plays matchmaker for Suzhen and Xu Xian. After they married, the couple start a Chinese herbal shop to provide medical care for locals. Suzhen makes use of magic to help when epidemic strikes. Her miraculous healing, however, has stopped believers from visiting and making donations to the Jinshan Temple. Monk Fahai of Jinshan Temple is angry and instigates Xu Xian to use realgar liquor to reveal the true form of Bai Suzhen, whose snake shape scares Xu Xian to death. Suzhen revives Xu Xian with the magical lingzhi herb she acquired by risking her life. Xu Xian falls for the trick of Fahai and is trapped at Jinshan Temple. Suzhen and Xiaoqing beg Fahai to release Xu Xian, but are subdued by celestial soldiers. Suzhen is determined to fight back and floods Jinshan Temple with water. Yet, she is not strong enough because she is pregnant; she is defeated. Xu Xian escapes from Jinshan Temple during the chaos. Suzhen flees to the broken bridge and meets Xu Xian. After telling each other the truth, the couple reunite.