In a mountain, a white snake and a green snake lived in hiding. After years of cultivation, they transformed into humans. The White snake was called Bai Suzheng (meaning lady white) and Green Snake, her maid was called Xiaoqing.

They went to visit West Lake, an attraction and while roaming around they stumbled along Xu Xian on a bridge. Bai Suzheng fell in love at first sight with a man named Xu Xian.

Fun Fact: White Snake was made into an animation movie in 2019. It based on the Chinese Legend of White Snake Folktale.

Xiaoqing helped her get closer to Xu Xian. Once they both were in love with each other, the two got married in a temple which was presided by Abbot Fa Hai. But Fa Hai accidently found out White Snake identity and planned to capture her.

The newly married couple moved to a city on the Yangtse River along with Xiaoqing. They opened an herbal shop and helped the poor patients, even giving out free treatment. Their lives were peaceful and fulfilling and soon, Bai Suzheng became pregnant.

Their lives took a sudden turn when Fa Hai found Xu Xian and told him his wife is a snake. Xu Xian was unwilling to believe him and to prove himself he suggested him to get her to drink alcohol mixed with realgar and she would show her real self. Xu Xian got her drunk on the occasion of Dragon Boat festival under husband persuasion. Bai Suzheng agreed with the thought that her magical powers would supress the alcohol.

But she was forced to transform into white snake under the influence of alcohol and had no choice but to quickly hide behind the bed curtains. Xu Xian drew aside the curtains, due to shock he fainted and died. Bai Suzheng transformed back into human and devasted on finding her husband dead. She decided to revive him using a celestial herb.

She went to the land of immortals to fight for the herb despite knowing it was against the rules. On seeing her perseverance, she was granted the celestial herb and she successfully revived Xu Xian.

Fa Hai captured Xu Xian and took him to the temple. Bai Suzheng went to the temple to fight Fa Hai and flooded the temple, Xu Xian and Bai Suzheng fled. Reunited again they solved the misunderstanding between them.

Bai Suzheng gave birth after which she was found and captured at Leifeng Pagoda. Her son grew out to became a great scholar and with help of Green Snake, they defeated Fa Hai. Bai Suzheng met her family and lived happily ever after.

The written version of the folktale first appeared during Tang Dynasty and has evolved over the years with various versions. At first, it was used a lesson to warn men to stay away from beautiful unknown origin woman.  

Chinese Folktale-first written record was found during Tang Dynasty