The CCTV Spring Festival Gala’s program “Borrowing Umbrella” allowed us to revisit the timelessness of a drama classic. During the holiday, the West Lake is loaded with visitors to seek the romance of the White Snake. A namesake water show will be staged at Qianwang’s Memorial on the 15th day of the first lunar month to offer a unique, festive experience.

According to the Water Management Office, the White Snake Lantern Fair is a side event of the Memorial’s Spring Flower Show. As one of China’s four greatest love stories, the Legend of White Snake will be reimagined with the West Lake as a backdrop. Actors and actresses will be performing on a waterside stage – what a poetic scene!

The Legend will begin with the story of Xu Shilin who, after years of diligence, took the first place at the imperial exam. He welcomed his mother, Bai Suzhen, back from Leifeng Pagoda and prepared a gift as his gratitude for his village men in support of him. Together, Xu and his fellows celebrated the Lantern Festival. The sighting of a heavy snowfall by the famed “Broken Bridge” will help walk visitors into more picturesque views, like the Lady White Snake and Little Green dancing in the snow, Li Gongfu playing a guqin, Xu Shilin blowing a bamboo flute, and Xu Xian poking his nose into the herbs in a snowy day. This’ll be an illustration of wintertime West Lake from a unique perspective.

Traditions are well respected with the use of handmade oil umbrellas, which is also considered an innovation for the show. 

The water show is staged in two time slots on Feb. 12, one from 10:00 to 11:30, and the other from 13:30 to 14:30. Either on a boat ride or simply at the quay of Qianwang’s Memorial can you have the seat for it.