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A Chinese Odyssey Part Three (2016) movie poster

Timeline

A Chinese Odyssey Part Three (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 93 mins · Chinese
Directed by
Jeffrey Lau
Starring
Ye Liu, Karen Mok, Tang Yan, Gillian Chung, Wu Jing, Corey Yuen Kwai

This chapter of the beloved fantasy saga follows Zixia, who foresees a tragic outcome and journeys back in time to alter events. Determined to prevent the impending disaster, she aims to ensure Monkey never falls in love with her. He is subsequently reincarnated, and continues to patiently await Bak Jing-jing’s return.

Comedy Adventure Family Fantasy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

A Chinese Odyssey Part Three Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of A Chinese Odyssey Part Three (2016) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Zixia opens Pandora’s Box and glimpses a possible future

    Zixia uses Pandora’s Box to leap forward in time and glimpse the consequences of leaving a tear in Joker’s heart. The glimpse hints at her own demise and reveals that Joker is the reincarnation of the Monkey King. Disturbed by what she sees, she begins to distance herself from Joker even as he presses for answers about the future.

  2. Joker’s bond and Bai Jingjing’s suspicion grow from the heart-mark

    Zixia admits she left a mark on Joker’s heart. Bai Jingjing grows suspicious that the mark could erode her lingering affections for Joker and push him toward Zixia. The revelation sows tension as Joker’s loyalty hangs in the balance.

  3. Zixia’s attempt to reconnect Joker and Bai Jingjing

    She tries to force an earlier meeting between Joker and Bai Jingjing, hoping to rekindle the relationship that the future jeopardizes. The plan hits a snag during a tense confrontation that leaves Zixia cornered. The episode shows the fragility of their relationships and Zixia’s desperation.

  4. Zixia allies with the Bull Demon King for safety

    Facing mounting danger, Zixia resolves to seek safety by allying with the Bull Demon King. The alliance promises protection but complicates future loyalties as Qingxia remains entwined with Zixia’s body.

    Where
    Bull Demon King’s realm

  5. Joker roams the desert seeking Zixia; encounters a subdued Monkey King

    Joker wanders the desert in search of Zixia. Along the way he encounters a version of the Monkey King who is briefly subdued by Guanyin. The encounter hints at layered loyalties and a monkey-king identity that will thread through the timeline.

    Where
    Desert

  6. Guanyin frees Monkey King; Longevity Monk delays capture with Pandora’s Box

    Guanyin departs with the subdued Monkey King, while the Longevity Monk uses Pandora’s Box to evade death and delay the moment of capture. The delay shifts the chase and heats the tension between heaven and earth.

    Where
    Desert / Heaven

  7. Jade Emperor learns Six-Eared Monkey will bridge for Joker; Six-Eared Monkey condemned

    In Heaven, Guanyin delivers the subdued Monkey King to the Jade Emperor, who worries about the Sealed Book and the demon presence. He reveals that the Six-Eared Monkey will act as a bridge to fill the Monkey King’s role until Joker arrives from the future, and condemns the Six-Eared Monkey to the Great Oven.

    Where
    Heaven

  8. Bull Demon King’s home: Zixia and Qingxia discuss marriage; clash with Iron Fan and Red Child

    Back at the Bull Demon King’s home, Zixia and Qingxia discuss the possibility of quiet married life. A clash with Princess Iron Fan and her son Red Child disrupts the peace and forces the demon king to stall for time.

    Where
    Bull Demon King’s home

  9. Joker and Longevity Monk escape; seek refuge at Xiang Xiang’s palace

    Joker and the Longevity Monk manage a narrow escape after stealing the Bull Demon King’s fiery wheels. They seek refuge at Xiang Xiang’s palace, where Xiang Xiang devours a man whole and Zixia reveals the truth about her past demise to Joker.

    Where
    Xiang Xiang’s palace

  10. Xiang Xiang’s past and Mantis memory; Bull Demon King confronts Xiang Xiang

    The Bull Demon King arrives to confront Xiang Xiang about a former lover named Mantis, a memory she clings to even as chaos unfolds. The revelation deepens the tensions surrounding the wedding and alliances.

    Where
    Xiang Xiang’s palace

  11. Wedding preparations crescendo; Joker and Zixia kiss amid scrutiny

    As wedding preparations progress, Xiang Xiang’s appetite becomes a point of scrutiny and the Bull Demon King and Xiang Xiang realize Joker and Zixia’s bond threatens their plans. The Longevity Monk’s motif underscores the moment as Joker and Zixia share a kiss, witnessed by Xiang Xiang and others.

    Where
    Xiang Xiang’s palace

  12. Jade Emperor discovers Sealed Book changes again; Six-Eared Monkey freed

    In Heaven, the Jade Emperor learns the Sealed Book has changed once more. The Six-Eared Monkey is freed from the Great Oven, and Qingxia regains her body, allowing the Monkey-king pursuit to resume with new knowledge.

    Where
    Heaven

  13. Six-Eared Monkey crashes the wedding; affair with Princess Iron Fan exposed

    Six-Eared Monkey crashes the wedding, exposing his affair with Princess Iron Fan. A fierce battle erupts as heavenly and earthly forces collide, forcing Qingxia to intervene. She trades places with Zixia to preserve the prophecy while altering the outcome.

    Where
    Wedding site / Heavenly battlefield

  14. Final reconciliation of the Bull Demon King’s family

    The clash ends with Xiang Xiang sealed and Qingxia’s intervention pivotal to the outcome. The Heavenly Army arrives and General Li Jing’s efforts push toward a final blow, restoring balance to the family and the realm.

    Where
    Bull Demon King’s home / heavenly battlefield

  15. Five hundred years later: reunion on a high wall

    Five hundred years later, Six-Eared Monkey travels with his son and disciples on a pilgrimage. Joker and Zixia share a kiss on a high wall and contemplate a reunion. The Longevity Monk has become a Buddha, and the Jade Emperor returns with news that the Sealed Book has changed again, leaving the fate of their world poised on a fresh turn of the wheel.

    When
    Five hundred years later
    Where
    On a high wall

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:46

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Timeline questions answered

A Chinese Odyssey Part Three Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of A Chinese Odyssey Part Three (2016): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Zixia distance herself from Joker after using Pandora's Box?

Zixia uses Pandora's Box to glimpse the future and discovers two critical things: she will die, and Joker is the reincarnation of the Monkey King. Realizing that her relationship with Joker leads to tragedy and potentially his madness, she tries to push him away to save both their lives.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Zixia's mysterious behavior and withholding of information plants the seed of her desperation.

  • zixia
  • joker
  • pandora box
  • future
  • monkey king reincarnation
Q2

What is Joker's true identity in the movie?

Joker is revealed to be the reincarnation of the Monkey King. This is discovered when Zixia uses Pandora's Box to look into the future and sees that Joker will become the Monkey King, connecting their fates across time.

Foreshadowing: The encounter with the subdued Monkey King in the desert hints at the monkey-king identity that will later be confirmed.

  • joker
  • monkey king
  • reincarnation
  • true identity
Q3

What is the Six-Eared Monkey's purpose in the story?

The Six-Eared Monkey serves as a temporary bridge to fill the Monkey King's role until Joker arrives from the future. The Jade Emperor explains that the Six-Eared Monkey will maintain the cosmic order until the true reincarnation (Joker) takes his place, but the Six-Eared Monkey is ultimately condemned to the Great Oven for this role.

Foreshadowing: Early mentions of the Monkey King's capture and the celestial concern about demon presence set up the Six-Eared Monkey's temporary position.

  • six-eared monkey
  • monkey king
  • bridge
  • jade emperor
  • great oven
Q4

What is the Sealed Book and why does it keep changing?

The Sealed Book is a celestial record in Heaven that dictates fate and the cosmic order. Throughout the movie, it changes multiple times as characters alter timelines and take actions that ripple through fate. The Jade Emperor is troubled by these changes, as they represent shifts in the predetermined destiny of gods and mortals alike.

Foreshadowing: The Jade Emperor's worry about the Sealed Book's integrity early on hints at its central role in the story's shifting fate.

  • sealed book
  • jade emperor
  • fate
  • destiny
  • changes
Q5

How do Zixia and Qingxia switch bodies and why?

Zixia's twin sister Qingxia inhabits Zixia's body throughout much of the story. Qingxia had foreknowledge of the Sealed Book's errors and uses this to her advantage. Later, Qingxia regains her own body and ultimately trades places with Zixia during the final battle to preserve the prophecy while changing the outcome.

Foreshadowing: The tense confrontation between Zixia and Qingxia (in Zixia's body) establishes their complicated relationship and hints at deeper schemes.

  • qingxia
  • zixia
  • body swap
  • twins
  • prophecy
Q6

What happens at Joker and Zixia's wedding?

As wedding preparations proceed at Xiang Xiang's palace, the Bull Demon King and Xiang Xiang realize Joker and Zixia's bond threatens their plans. The Six-Eared Monkey crashes the wedding, exposing his affair with Princess Iron Fan. A fierce battle erupts between heavenly and earthly forces, and Qingxia must intervene to preserve the prophecy.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tensions between the Bull Demon King, Xiang Xiang, and the lovers set up this chaotic wedding confrontation.

  • wedding
  • joker
  • zixia
  • six-eared monkey
  • battle
Q7

What is Xiang Xiang's connection to Mantis?

Xiang Xiang, the Bull Demon King's sister, has a past relationship with a character named Mantis. When the Bull Demon King confronts Xiang Xiang about this former lover, it reveals deeper emotional tensions that complicate the wedding arrangements and alliances.

Foreshadowing: Xiang Xiang's mysterious past and appetite foreshadow the revelations about her former lover.

  • xiang xiang
  • mantis
  • bull demon king
  • former lover
Q8

What is the mark on Joker's heart that Zixia mentions?

Zixia admits to leaving a mark on Joker's heart. This revelation causes Bai Jingjing to suspect that the mark could erode Joker's lingering affections for her and push him toward Zixia instead, creating tension in the love triangle.

Foreshadowing: Bai Jingjing's suspicion grows as she observes Joker's changing behavior toward Zixia.

  • bai jingjing
  • heart mark
  • joker
  • zixia
  • love triangle
Q9

What is the Longevity Monk's true identity?

The Longevity Monk is revealed to actually be the Monkey in disguise. He uses Pandora's Box to evade death and delay his capture by the Monkey King. This disguise is part of the complex identity shuffle in the movie's timeline.

Foreshadowing: The Longevity Monk's unusual behavior and ability to evade capture hint at his true nature.

  • longevity monk
  • monkey disguise
  • pandora box
Q10

What happens in the final scene five hundred years later?

Five hundred years later, Joker and Zixia share a kiss on a high wall and contemplate reunion, symbolizing hope for their future together. The Six-Eared Monkey accompanies his son and disciples on a pilgrimage. However, the Jade Emperor returns with news that the Sealed Book has changed again, leaving the world's fate uncertain.

Foreshadowing: Earlier references to fate and the prophecy build toward this bittersweet conclusion.

  • five hundred years
  • joker
  • zixia
  • reunion
  • sealed book
  • ending

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Chinese Odyssey Part Three, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Chinese Odyssey Part Three tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Cosmic Romances Against Fate like in A Chinese Odyssey Part Three

Where lovers battle destiny across time and realms to rewrite their tragic ends. If you liked the mythic love story in A Chinese Odyssey Part Three, explore more movies where characters defy destiny. These films blend high-stakes fantasy, time travel, and a bittersweet tone, offering similar stories of fated lovers trying to change their cosmic fate.

  • destiny-driven
  • mythic
  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • cosmic
  • playful
  • Tone: whimsical, bittersweet, romantic
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow protagonists who become aware of a tragic romantic destiny and embark on a fantastical journey—often involving time travel or reality-bending—to prevent it. The journey is typically fast-paced and chaotic, filled with mythic obstacles, leading to an ending that balances hope with the enduring weight of cosmic forces.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their unique blend of high-concept fantasy, a central romantic quest against predetermined outcomes, and a tone that mixes whimsical adventure with the melancholic ache of potentially unavoidable loss.

Glorious Times in the Spessart movie poster

Glorious Times in the Spessart

1967
Chances Are movie poster

Chances Are

1989
Spellbound movie poster

Spellbound

2024
A Chinese Odyssey Part Three movie poster

A Chinese Odyssey Part Three

2016
Destino movie poster

Destino

2003
Camelot movie poster

Camelot

1967
Finding Fanny movie poster

Finding Fanny

2014
Orlando movie poster

Orlando

1993

Whimsical Mythic Chaos like in A Chinese Odyssey Part Three

Fast-paced fantasies where celestial rules are broken with chaotic, playful consequences. Fans of the chaotic energy in A Chinese Odyssey Part Three will enjoy these similarly whimsical mythic adventures. These movies feature fast-paced stories set in fantastical worlds where the balance of heaven and earth is playfully upended, blending comedy with high-stakes fantasy.

  • whimsical
  • chaotic
  • mythic
  • playful
  • absurd
  • fantastical
  • Tone: whimsical, playful, chaotic
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories unfold in richly imagined mythological settings where the established order of gods and monsters is constantly disrupted. The plot moves quickly through a series of escalating, often humorous, chaotic events—captures, chases, and cosmic blunders—driven by a large cast of characters with intertwined allegiances and hidden identities.

Why they belong together: They share a specific vibe defined by a fast pace, a whimsical tone that finds humor in cosmic absurdity, and a complex narrative set within a bustling, mythic world that feels both immense and intimately chaotic.

A Chinese Odyssey Part Three movie poster

A Chinese Odyssey Part Three

2016
Slayers movie poster

Slayers

2022
Spanish Movie movie poster

Spanish Movie

2009
Futurama: Bender’s Big Score movie poster

Futurama: Bender’s Big Score

2007

Every angle

A Chinese Odyssey Part Three (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Chinese Odyssey Part Three in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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