Lin Shizhao

In Chinese folklore, the corpse-herding rituals of Xiangxi gave birth to the myth of the jiangshi, or hopping vampire. In 1985, Mr. Vampire brought the jiangshi to the big screen, making it a cultural icon. Over thirty years later, as the genre fades into memory, The Last Jiangshi (original title: China’s Last Vampire) finds the only known jiangshi still existing in the modern world—Old Li.

In southern China, in a newly built neighborhood, a security guard is taking a nap. He helps pick up a package and takes the chance to sneak into his friend’s place. He wanders around inside until he got caught. He learned about the news of the relocation and recalld his memories of the treasure he had buried in the ground in his childhood. The sound of building construction is going on and on till the buildings eventually built up. Digging up memories seems pointless.

In southern China, the demolition of a small village went quite well. Two kids happened to get an abandoned wood-carved earth God. The story went on like a metaphor when the kids walked a long way, trying to return it although the temples around have no interest in this wood-carved earth God. When back home, the kids were told this wood-carved earth God was worth the price of a can of coke. Finally, with an innocent heart, they bury the wood-carved earth God into the ground, praying for a better future for the land they are going to live with.