The story of a village amidst the winds of change, with Aunt Guo a female member of the Communist Party as the center. This multi-level display of Chinese farmers of different thinking style and perplexing relationships, reflects some of the major changes in China's rural areas from land reform to the people's commune being established in this historical stage.
The People on the Grassland is one of the earliest “minority nationality films” produced in the PRC. It features Mongolian herders who serve the people in the struggle against the forces of the KMT. The film was released in China in 1953 and became particularly well-known for its songs and theme-music.