The Chinese myth-transformed animation "White Snake: Afloat" has recreated the elegance and charm of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) culture through visually striking scenes, showing how ancient folktales can be revitalized through modern storytelling and ingenious techniques and skills.

The movie just hit the cinema on the Qixi Festival, or the Chinese Valentine's Day, on Saturday, which is expected to spark another around of heated discussions on the inheritance and innovative development of traditional Chinese culture.

The animation is the final installment of Light Chaser Animation's White Snake trilogy, based on a Chinese legend centering around a romance between Xu Xian, a respected doctor, and a female snake spirit named Bai Suzhen, who transforms herself into a charming lady after centuries of practice and cultivation.

The story picks up with the protagonist Xiao Bai finally finding Xu Xian, the reincarnation of her beloved Ah Xuan that appeared in the first film "White Snake".

"The hero is named Ah Xuan or Xu Xuan in the first installment of the White Snake series. But in the latest installment, he is called Xu Xian. This is because in the Legend of White Snake, the hero was originally named Xu Xuan, but it has gradually become Xu Xian after mouth-to-mouth storytelling through generations. This is what we draw our inspiration from," said Li Jiakai, the film's co-director.

Set in Lin'an, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), the film has restored ancient Chinese people's daily life through stunning scenes depicting bustling commercial streets, winding alleys, teeming restaurants and tea houses, and busy docks.

It also provides a vivid glimpse into how the Song people celebrated diverse traditional festivals such as Duanwu (Dragon Boat Festival), Yuanxiao (Lantern Festival), Hanshi (Cold Food Festival) and Zhongqiu (Mid-Autumn Festival), immersing audience in the rich and charming culture of the Song Dynasty.

"There are many classic folktales that can represent Chinese culture. We have actually recreated them with new techniques and skills. Our aspiration is to pass on these stories generation by generation," said Chen Jianxi, the other director of the film.