A Chinese Ghost Story I Ii Iii -1987-1990-1991-... !!link!! May 2026

The A Chinese Ghost Story ( 倩女幽魂倩 女 幽 魂 ) trilogy, produced by Tsui Hark and directed by Ching Siu-tung, is a landmark of Hong Kong cinema that redefined the supernatural romance genre with its blend of gravity-defying action, lush visuals, and poignant storytelling. The Original Trilogy (1987–1991) A Chinese Ghost Story Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Wu Ma

A timid debt collector falls for a beautiful ghost enslaved by a Tree Demon. A Chinese Ghost Story II Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Jacky Cheung

Seeking his lost love, the scholar encounters a lookalike mortal woman and battles a giant centipede demon. A Chinese Ghost Story III Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Joey Wong, Jacky Cheung

Set 100 years later, a young monk protects a seductive ghost from the resurrected Tree Demon. Key Highlights and Cultural Impact

A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy (1987–1991) is a definitive pillar of Hong Kong cinema, blending action, supernatural horror, and tragic romance . Produced by and directed by Ching Siu-tung

, the series is loosely based on Pu Songling's classic short story "Nie Xiaoqian" from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio The Original Trilogy

A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy (1987, 1990, 1991) is a cornerstone of Hong Kong's "Golden Age" cinema, blending supernatural horror, martial arts, and tragic romance. Produced by and directed by Ching Siu-tung

, the series revitalized the ghost-story genre through innovative "pre-CGI" practical effects and wire-work. Key Features of the Trilogy The Original (1987): Inspired by the classic tale "Nie Xiaoqian" from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio

, it follows a bumbling tax collector (Leslie Cheung) who falls for a ghost (Joey Wang) enslaved by a tree demon. The Sequel (1990): A chinese ghost story I II III -1987-1990-1991-...

Leslie Cheung returns as Ning, who gets caught in a plot involving rebellious sisters and a monstrous demon monk. The Third Installment (1991): Set 100 years after the first, it stars Tony Leung

as a young monk battling the reawakened Tree Devil. It largely mirrors the original's structure but adds comedic elements centered on his vow of celibacy. Fascinating Production Trivia A Chinese Ghost Story Trilogy Blu-Ray - Orbit DVD

The A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy (1987–1991), produced by Tsui Hark and directed by Ching Siu-tung, is a landmark of Hong Kong cinema. It famously blended wuxia swordplay with supernatural horror, slapstick comedy, and sweeping romance, revitalizing the "ancient-costume ghost film" genre. A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)

The original film is based on the short story "Nie Xiaoqian" from Pu Songling’s 17th-century collection, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.

Plot: Ning Caichen (Leslie Cheung), a timid and penniless tax collector, takes shelter in the haunted Lanruo Temple. There, he falls for the beautiful Nie Xiaoqian (Joey Wong), unaware she is a ghost enslaved by a terrifying Tree Demon. The demon uses Xiaoqian to lure men and suck out their "yang essence" with its massive, mile-long tongue.

Resolution: With the help of the eccentric Taoist monk Yan Chixia (Wu Ma), Ning battles the Tree Demon and journeys into the Underworld to rescue Xiaoqian’s soul for a proper reincarnation.

Legacy: The film became a cult classic, known for its "wire-fu" stunts, innovative special effects (like flying heads and zombies), and the iconic chemistry between Cheung and Wong. A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990)

A direct sequel that shifts toward political satire and action-comedy while retaining the supernatural elements. The A Chinese Ghost Story ( 倩女幽魂倩 女

Cultural Impact

It became an instant classic, winning Best Original Score and Best Art Direction at the Hong Kong Film Awards. It inspired countless imitations, video games, and a 2011 remake (which, while visually lush, lacked the original’s soul). The theme song, “Dawn” (sung by Leslie Cheung), remains a heartbreaking anthem of forbidden love.

A Different Beast

Produced during the aftermath of the Tiananmen

Visual and Musical Legacy

The films’ scores (by Romeo Diaz and James Wong) mix traditional Chinese instruments with synthesized melancholy. The image of a white-robed woman floating through a moonlit forest, hair unbound, remains a global pop-culture shorthand for “beautiful ghost.”

Final Ranking

If you have never experienced these films, find a restored 4K print. Let the mournful pan-flute music wash over you. In a world of soulless CGI blockbusters, the image of Joey Wong floating through a ruined temple, her silk ribbons trailing through moonlight, remains the definitive image of cinematic enchantment.

"It's too dangerous to be a hero." – Yin Chek-ha. But for one trilogy, it was worth it.

A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy (1987, 1990, 1991), directed by Ching Siu-tung and produced by

, is a definitive landmark of Hong Kong's "Golden Age" of cinema. This genre-defying series blended wuxia action, gothic horror, romantic melodrama, and slapstick comedy into a unique "fantastical" aesthetic that gained worldwide cult status. 百度百科 Film Breakdown A Chinese Ghost Story 1-3

Beyond the Silk Robes: The Wild World of A Chinese Ghost Story (1987–1991) Cultural Impact It became an instant classic, winning

If you haven’t experienced 1980s Hong Kong cinema, you’re missing out on a specific kind of beautiful, high-octane madness. At the center of it is the A Chinese Ghost Story

trilogy—a fever dream of gravity-defying swordplay, tragic romance, and giant, soul-sucking tongues.

Produced by the legendary Tsui Hark and directed by Ching Siu-tung, these films redefined "ghostly cinema" by mashing together horror, comedy, and martial arts into something totally unique. A Chinese Ghost Story (1987): The Masterpiece

The first film is a certified classic. It follows Ning Choi-san (the late, legendary Leslie Cheung), a bumbling debt collector who has to stay in the haunted Orchid Temple because he’s too broke for an inn. There, he meets Nip Siu-sin (Joey Wong), a beautiful ghost forced to lure men to their deaths by her master, a terrifying Tree Demon with a massive, prehensile tongue. Why it works:

The chemistry between Cheung and Wong is enchanting, and the wire-work action is breathtaking.

Wu Ma as the eccentric, rap-singing Taoist monk who helps Ning fight off the underworld. A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990): The Political Sequel

Films and Release Years

Guide to Evaluating "A Chinese Ghost Story" I, II, III (1987–1991)

Love, Lycanthropes, and Lamentations: Unpacking the “A Chinese Ghost Story” Trilogy

In the pantheon of Hong Kong cinema, few films balance the ethereal and the electric quite like A Chinese Ghost Story (1987). Directed by Ching Siu-tung and produced by the legendary Tsui Hark, the film—and its two immediate sequels—did more than just scare audiences; it invented a new visual language. Combining wuxia swordplay, slapstick comedy, Arthurian romance, and jaw-dropping special effects, the trilogy remains the definitive benchmark for the supernatural action-romance genre.

Here is the haunting evolution of Ning Caishan, Nie Xiaoqian, and the swordsman Yin Chek Ha.

Joey Wong’s Immortal Ghost

She played three versions of “Xiaoqian” (two named directly, one as Windy). Each is distinct: the tragic lover, the political pawn, the playful spirit. Together, they form a meditation on the many faces of feminine sacrifice and agency in Chinese folklore.