Traditional performances celebrate arrival of the Year of the Snake

In the Legend of the White Snake, the scenes of Madame White Snake traveling with her faithful companion the Green Snake along West Lake, a picturesque place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and bumping into Xu Xian, an intellect and her future husband, are considered the most romantic in this popular household tale.

The story has been adapted into operas, films and TV dramas. In this Year of the Snake, the plot has been reenacted in various forms, such as pao han chuan ("ride a land boat"), a popular folk dance in which performers dance in prop boats made of paper, cloth and other materials.

Dancers recently staged a performance of the tale to enhance the Spring Festival celebrations in Beijing. Performers from across the country presented nine folk shows including the pao han chuan rendition of the Legend of the White Snake.