[C-Drama]: Behind the Visual Splendor of Listening Snow Tower

Jun 5, 2019

Since its premiere, Listening Snow Tower 听雪楼 starring Qin Junjie and Yuan Bingyan has gotten a mixed reception from fans who love it and those who feel that it pales in comparison to the novel. One thing people can generally agree on are the amazing visuals of the series.

Director Yin Tao goes into detail about the the unique aesthetics for Listening Snow Tower. Yin Tao says that they had to do quite a bit of 'homework' to research old architectural designs from the Wei, Jin dynasties.

With the two main sets being the Listening Snow Tower and the Moon Sect, the construction focused on bringing out the traditional beauty of Chinese calligraphy. Art director Liu Ziyi adds that the Moon Sect is sacred and a place of beliefs. They refrained from using curtains to give it a cold and solemn aura.

They designed the set for the main hall of the Snow Tower with a concept of tranquility. The candles quietly giving off light and casting shadows and a sense of peace. They also drew inspiration from old Chinese gardens and paintings.

The same careful deliberating went into the props. The wooden table, the beaded headpieces, decorations and other artefacts showcasing Chinese craftsmanship were placed abundantly in the show.

Actor Qin Junjie has said that Listening Snow Tower applies a very modern perception of beauty to a standard wuxia. He liked its simplicity and uniformity in colors. It's his first time to see this style in a drama and he finds it beautiful, very 'jianghu'. Judging from the stills, I have to agree, it truly is a work of art.