''The Legend of the White Snake'' () is a 2019

streaming television Streaming television is the digital distribution of television content, such as TV shows, as streaming media delivered over the Internet. Streaming television stands in contrast to dedicated terrestrial television delivered by over-the-air a ...

series starring

Ju Jingyi Ju Jingyi () is a Chinese singer, dancer, and actress. She rose to fame as a member of Chinese idol girl group SNH48. As a member of SNH48, during the annual General Elections, she was elected as No.4 (2014), No.2 (2015), No.1 (2016), and No. ...

and

Yu Menglong Yu Menglong ( zh, s=于朦胧; born 15 June 1988), also known as Alan Yu, is a Chinese actor, singer and music video director. He is best known for his role in the hit web drama ''Go Princess Go'' (2015), as well as the fantasy romance dramas '' ...

. It is based on the Chinese folk legend

Legend of the White Snake The Legend of the White Snake is a Chinese legend. It has since been presented in a number of major Chinese operas, films, and television series. The earliest attempt to fictionalize the story in printed form appears to be ''The White Maiden ...

. The series airs on iQiyi starting April 3, 2019.

Synopsis

Based on the folk legend of the same name, the series is set in the Southern Song Dynasty and focuses on the romance between Xu Xian, a physician based in Lin’an, and Bai Suzhen, a 1000-year-old white snake spirit that has taken the form of a woman. Xu and Bai’s cross-species love is opposed by Jin Ruyi, the young daughter of Xu’s master who is infatuated with Xu. Ruyi’s obsession with Xu creates a grudge between her and Bai. Xu and Bai’s relationship was also initially opposed by Fahai, an orthodox Buddhist monk who harbored a bias against demons. Throughout the series, Bai is accompanied by Xiao Qing, a 500 year-old green snake spirit who is later revealed to be a demigod. Qing considers Bai as her elder sister after and remains loyal to her.

Cast

Main

as Bai Suzhen, a 1000 year-old white snake spirit who cultivated alongside Jingsong on Mount Emei before moving to Lin’an. Bai is noted for her beauty, intelligence, and righteous nature. She falls in love with Xu Xian and opens the Baohe Clinic with him. She is close friends with Xiao Qing. *

as Xu Xian, a kind hearted and intelligent physician who comes from a wealthy family. Due to his parents’ untimely deaths, Xu was raised by his older sister, Xu Jiaorong. Previously worked for Jinshi Clinic before opening Baohe Clinic with his wife, Suzhen. * Xiao Yan as Xiao Qing, a 500 year-old green snake spirit who is the daughter of snake spirit Yu Furong and the Dragon King Ao Guang, making her a demigod. Her mother was killed because of her relationship with Ao Guang, as Heaven did not permit love between demons and gods, though her father was not because Jade Lotus refused to reveal his identity. Qing did not learn of her demigod status until late in the series and eventually reconciled with her father. * Pei Zitian as Fahai, a Buddhist monk from Jinshan Temple. His obsession with eliminating demons resulted in him strengthening the Mind Demon. After reaching enlightenment, Fahai helps Hanwen save Suzhen from her death. * Yu Lang as Jin Ruyi, owner of Jinshi Clinic who is in love with Xu, whom she refers to as Hanwen. Wang Daoling, a frog spirit, claims her to be the reincarnation of his previous love. Ruyi's hatred and jealousy towards Suzhen allows the Mind Demon to reside in her. Realizing the sins which the Mind Demon tricked her into committing, Ruyi kills herself in a futile attempt to also kill the Mind Demon.

Supporting cast

* Nie Zihao as Jingsong, a golden mouse spirit who is a close friend of Suzhen. His jealousy towards Xu drove a wedge between him and Suzhen, though they later reconcile when Jingsong helps Suzhen save Xu. While helping Suzhen, Jingsong used magic that quickly depleted all his years of cultivation. Suzhen believed Jingsong's soul had been scattered as a result, although it was later revealed that his good deed pleased Heaven and allowed him to be reborn, albeit in the form of a golden squirrel. *

Feng Jianyu Feng Jianyu (born August 27, 1992 in Heilongjiang) is a Chinese actor and singer. He portrayed the role of Wu Suowei in the web series ''Counterattack'' in May 2015, and entered into the public eye. On September 22, 2015, he collaborated with ...

as Zhang Yutang, an herb collector who worked for Baohe Clinic. He falls in love with Qing, who helps him learn of his identity as a nobleman who was kidnapped as a child. * Li Lin as Li Gongfu. Brother-in-law of Xu and husband of Xu Jiaorong. Li came from a poor family, but was the only suitor of Jiaorong who agreed to allow Xu Xian to live with them after marriage. Li works as a county official for Lin’an. * Zeng Yunzhen as Xu Jiaorong. Jiaorong raised her brother Xu Xian from a young age. She is skilled in housework and wants the best for her younger brother. *

Cecilia Yip Cecilia Yip Tung (; born 8 March 1963) is a Hong Kong actress whose work is known throughout Asia, especially in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Career She began her acting career in 1982 with ''Nomad'' for which she was nominated for t ...

as Xu Xian's mother * Maggie Chen as Yu Furong, Qing’s mother. Yu’s relationship with the Dragon King Ao Guang results in her death. She refuses to reveal Ao as the one whom she had an affair with, thus sparing him. *

Tse Kwan-ho Tse Kwan-ho (born 23 March 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, professionally also known as Gardner Tse. Originally a nurse, Tse Kwan-ho rose to prominence in the stage play ''The Mad Phoenix'' (), this was later remade into a feature film of the sam ...

as Xu Huairen * Wang Weiyuan as Wao Daoling. A frog spirit who is in love with Jin Ruyi. He goes to great lengths to please her, though he eventually dies at her hands. * Huang Kaijie as Xu Shilin * Zhao Yingzi as Li Bilian *

Choenyi Tsering Choenyi Tsering (; ; born 15 May 1986) is a Chinese actress and singer of Tibetan descent. She is best known for her roles as Princess Aliya on ''Love Yunge from the Desert'' (2013) and Zhang Lihua/ Zhu Gui'er on ''Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties ...

as Lady Wu * Yi Yizi as Hu Kexin, a fox spirit that steals the hearts of men. She collaborates with Jingsong, who wants to kill Xu Xian. Hu is killed by Fahai. * Tang Zhenye as Prime Minister Liang *

David Wu David Wu (born April 8, 1955) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1999 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. As a child of immigrants from Taiwan, Wu was the first Taiwanese American to serve ...

as Lü Dongbin * Sunny Tu as

Guanyin Guanyin () is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara ( sa, अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She ...

* Wang Weiguo as Jade Emperor * Zhu Longguang as Buddha * Heidi Wang as Queen Mother * Chen Chongyuan as Wu Guibao * Liao Pengfei as Ah Luo * Fan Wendong as Xie Daqian * Wang Ronghong as He Dagu * Shen Baoping as Clan Master Lingyou * Hou Changrong as Dragon King Ao Guang. Ao was deeply in love with Yu Furong despite Heaven’s Law forbidding them from being together. After Yu’s death, Ao refuses to acknowledge Qing as his daughter and sends the Four Immortals to guard over Qing at the West Lake. At the end of the series, Ao sincerely apologizes to his daughter for his cowardice and invites her to stay with him at the Crystal Palace. * Jackson Lou as Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li * Fang Yilun as Prince Mu, close friend of Xu Xian. * Yao Tongtong as Princess Consort Mu * Ma Shuliang as Mr. Jin * Liu Lifei as Yinxiang * Zhang Bowen as Changsheng

Production

The series was filmed from March to July 2018. The series is primarily based on the 1992 television series adaptation of the folk tale legend.

, who played Xu Xian in the 1992 television series adaptation of the folk tale legend, plays Xu Xian's mother. Maggie Chen, who played Xiao Qing in the 1992 television series adaptation of the folk tale legend, plays Yu Furong, Qing’s mother in the series.

Soundtrack

*''Qian Nian Deng Yi Hui'' (; ''A Millennium's Wait for a Return'') performed by

*''Du Qing'' (; ''Passing Feelings'') performed by

*''Qing Cheng Shan Xia Bai Suzhen'' (; Bai Suzhen under Mount Qingcheng) performed by

Awards and nominations

International broadcast

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend of the White Snake, 2019 TV series Chinese romantic fantasy television series 2019 Chinese television series debuts Works based on the Legend of the White Snake IQIYI original programming Chinese web series 2019 Chinese television series endings 2019 web series debuts Television series by iQiyi Pictures