Photos are created by Chen Xin out of her imagination of the exotic mythical creatures and characters depicted in the Book of Mountains and Seas, a classic compendium of Chinese mythology.[Photo provided to China Daily]

A set of photos depicting the legendary beings and fantasy worlds described in the Book of Mountains and Seas, a classic compendium of Chinese mythology, have been circulating online recently.

The pictures, which have captured the imagination of many fans, were created by Chen Xin, a 24-year-old photographer from Chengdu, Sichuan province.

In her pictures, creatures and characters－such as a mermaid who cried pearl tears, a butterfly that weighs more than 80 kilograms, a fish with a bird's head and a white deer with four antlers that only appears during floods－all come alive in the form of fairy spirits.

The classic tome, which present-day scholars believe was written by multiple authors during different ages, roughly during mid-and late Warring States Period (476-221 BC) and early Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220), mostly contains geographical knowledge of ancient China, passed down through folklore. It not only includes many well-known ancient legends and fables, but vividly describes numerous exotic mythical beasts.