White Snake returns to screens for third and final time

A scene in the movie features Bai Niangzi and Xu Xian, the white snake demon and her beloved man. One of the most anticipated summer film releases, White Snake: Afloat, the final installment of Light Chaser Animation's White Snake trilogy, is scheduled to open on Qixi Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day, which falls on Aug 10. Originating in the Tang Dynasty, the romantic tale took its current shape in Ming Dynasty writer Feng Menglong's Jing Shi Tong Yan, and became popular during the Qing Dynasty. Following its two-day nationwide preview screening on Aug 3 and 4, the film generated online excitement with several hashtags — highlighting its Chinese aesthetics and animation techniques — becoming trending topics on the country's popular social platforms.