It wasn't a dream if you saw a Russian princess in a gorgeous blue dress, adorned with pearls and gems that sparkled in the sunlight, wearing a kokoshnik headdress spanning a meter wide near West Lake a few weeks ago. Nor were you hallucinating if you glimpsed the White Snake and the Green Snake, characters from a well-known Chinese legend set in Hangzhou.

This spectacular sight was part of a unique project named "Folklore Fusion: Bridging Russia and China Through Art," which merged Chinese and Russian folklores in Hangzhou. Characters from China's "The White Snake" and "The Swan Princess", a Russian fairy tale, came to life in a modern interpretation by the 17-year-old prodigious artist Elisabeth Anisimow.

For three months, Elisabeth meticulously crafted traditional costumes from these folklore stories. This month, renowned Russian photographer Oleg Zotov and talented makeup artist and visagist Katya Bobkova arrived in Hangzhou to capture the essence of this project.

The project aims to popularize Russian and Chinese cultures not through strict academic discourse, but through vibrant, engaging artistic interpretations. This is achieved by blending painting, fashion photography, and innovative costume creation methods to tap into the deep, authentic roots of folk creativity found in fairy tales.

"I want to highlight the similarities between our fairy tales and cultures, inspiring others to explore and delve deeper into different cultures, and see how interconnected the world truly is," Elisabeth explained.

For Oleg Zotov and Katya Bobkova, it was their first visit to Hangzhou. They expressed their amazement by saying, "We found ourselves in completely different forms, in a cultural layer that resonates with the stunning landscapes and architectural marvels, this mix of modernity and historical buildings. It's truly fantastic and inspiring for us as artists."

The project's stunning results are unveiled for the first time in Hangzhoufeel newspaper. An exhibition featuring all the photographs and costumes is planned to be held in both Hangzhou and Russia.