Abstract This dissertation attempts to explore recorded fairy images in Scandinavian and Chinese folktales, and hence leads to a comparative study on fairies from both cultures. The aim of the dissertation is to find out the distinct characteristics, both similarities and differences of fairies in the two cultures. The dissertation serves as an informative support and inspiration to the author's short novel. Through textual study, this dissertation presents findings and comparisons from a content analysis of a sample of Scandinavian and Chinese folktales from Folktales of Norway, Hans Christian Andersen 's Fairy tales and Stories, Danish Fairy and Folktales, The Fairy Mythology, Collections of Chinese Folktales, Chinese Folktales of Love. The dissertation shows the author's tentative efforts in exploring the fairy cultures of the two regions, though it is important to note that to some degree, this dissertation might be limited due to the amount of selected texts. This dissertation addresses the changing meaning of the term "fairy" under different cultural perspectives. It is revealed that under the influence of two different cultural backgrounds, the interpretation and presence of the same term "fairy" variously accordingly. It is hypothesized that the definition of fairy should not be rigid but adaptive to diverse cultural backgrounds.