This plaintive and touching love story has been called the Romeo and Juliet of the East.

According to legend, Lord Zhu had a daughter named Zhu Yingtai, who was not only beautiful, but also intelligent and studious. In ancient times, girls were not allowed to study in school, so Zhu Yingtai disguised herself as a boy to attend school in Hangzhou.

After she arrived at the academy, she met a male classmate named Liang Shanbo, who was outstanding in terms of both character and knowledge. They hit it off immediately and later became sworn brothers, after which they were inseparable.

The seasons passed quickly and, at the end of the school year three years later, it was time to pack their belongings, bid their teachers goodbye, and return home. After spending those years as classmates, Zhu Yingtai had fallen deeply in love with her “brother” Liang and, although Liang Shanbo was unaware that Zhu was a girl, he admired her tremendously.

A few months later, Liang Shanbo went to Zhu Yingtai’s home for a visit. To his surprise and joy, Zhu Yingtai was in fact a beautiful young lady. At that moment, they confessed their feelings and promised themselves to each other.

Liang Shanbo then sent a matchmaker to the Zhu family home to ask for the young woman’s hand. But Lord Zhu had long ago betrothed his daughter to a rich man’s son. With his hopes dashed, Liang Shanbo fell gravely ill and died of depression not long afterward.

Zhu Yingtai was forced to go through with the marriage. The bridal escorts beat their gongs and played their drums throughout the journey. But when they passed Liang’s tomb, suddenly the sky darkened and the wind whipped sand and stones into the air. The sedan procession was forced to a stop. Zhu Yingtai got out of the sedan and took off her red wedding clothes. Wearing only mourning garb, she walked slowly to the tomb, knelt down, and burst into tears. Wind and rain began to blow, thunder boomed, and the tomb opened up. Zhu Yingtai smiled and leaped inside. With a great bang, the tomb closed again. The wind died down and the clouds scattered; the rain passed and the sky cleared. A pair of beautiful butterflies flew out from the tomb, dancing freely in the sunlight. This scene came to be known as the “butterfly lovers.”