The 1986 Chinese TV series Journey to the West was extremely popular when it aired, with Singaporean television also purchasing the broadcast rights. Now, 40 years later, unexpectedly, the “Spider Spirits”—supporting characters in the drama—have sparked heated discussion.
The show featured a total of seven Spider Spirits, all carefully selected poolside actresses back then, chosen for their beauty and poise. The buzz started because Long Zijia, a jewelry designer born after 1995, is the daughter of Yao Jia, who played the Red Spider Spirit at the time. Though her screen time was short, her exquisite costume and unique aura left a deep impression on viewers. Knowing how much her mother cherished those shooting days and often reminisced about her “Spider Spirit sisters,” Long Zijia secretly contacted several of the other original actresses and orchestrated a reunion, bringing them together after a gap of 40 years.
In the end, Yang Su (Pink Spider), Azhi Shima (Orange Spider), and Liu Lin (Yellow Spider) gathered in Hangzhou to meet Yao Jia. Long Zijia specially prepared the original costumes and headpieces used during filming, allowing her mother and the four other aunties to wear them again and recreate their classic on-screen looks. When Yao Jia saw her long-lost sisters, she was moved to tears, making for an incredibly heartwarming scene.
In the video, though all are now over fifty years old, their charm remains—their genuine smiles making it seem as if time had flowed backwards. Over these 40 years, their life paths diverged: Yao Jia became a film and television producer and continued to work in TV/film behind the scenes. Yang Su, Azhi Shima, Liu Lin, and others have either settled overseas or returned to ordinary lives. The remaining sisters were unable to attend for various reasons, and rarely keep in touch.
After the reunion video was posted, it quickly shot to the top of Weibo’s trending topics and sparked a huge reaction online. Netizens marveled: “The casting back then was truly top-notch; the Spider Sisters are still so beautiful after 40 years!” Some joked, “Looks like they really did eat Tang Seng’s flesh—they haven’t aged a bit!”
Many set stories from those years resurfaced. In the original novel, there’s an underwater scene with Zhu Bajie; when filming, the actresses were nearly exposed, with costumes initially designed as just a small bandeau, exposing both shoulders and midriff. The young actresses, only around 15 or 16, collectively rebelled, crying to the director: “We won’t wear such indecent clothes! We’re not filming!” The costume and art departments then stitched flesh-colored silk into form-fitting bodysuits covered with sheer gauze, meeting filming needs without revealing skin, and only then did the girls agree to perform.
The immense attention to this reunion stems from the series’ unique place in the hearts of several generations. Although the Spider Spirits were only part of one story arc in the journey, everything from costumes to casting was exquisitely done—the classic scene of seven Spider Spirits frolicking at the water’s edge remains an indelible memory for countless viewers. Seeing them together again after 40 years instantly awakened childhood nostalgia for generations, and proved that the vitality of a classic work never fades with time.
