In the spring and summer of 1949, the People's Liberation Army launched an offensive under the orders of Mao Zedong and Zhu De, they crossed the Yangtze River and Nanjing was liberated on April 23 which signaled the fall of the KMT regime, Chiang Kai-Shek fled to Taiwan; on October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong standing on the rostrum of Tiananmen, solemnly declared the foundation of the People's Republic of China.
A new young manager in a state-run restaurant finds his non-traditional approach to management is not popular with the older managers. Life has been frustrating for refreshment company worker Niu Hong, whose troubles only seem to double when he factors in his responsibilities as manager of the Chun City Restaurant. With help from his employees, Niu Hong vows to reform the business. But in the process, he ends up writing a whole new chapter into his otherwise humdrum life. Sun Chun and Yin Tingru co-star in foreign-language drama from director Teng Wenji.
Marshal Zhang Xueliang, Commander of the North Eastern Army, grows progressively disillusioned by Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek's policy to engage the Chinese Communist Party rather than fight the Japanese invaders which are occupying Manchuria. Despite numerous pleas, Chiang does not budge. After discussing with fellow general Yang Hucheng, the two take events into their own hands and place Chiang Kai-shek under arrest on December 12, 1936, forcing Chiang into a coalition with the CCP.
A disillusioned and lonely young man working for a foreign trade company finds his enthusiasm for life revived when he meets a young woman who seems to reflect the ideals and ambitions he once had.
Based on the Qing dynasty musical play that recounts the death of the Ming dynasty through the love story of its two main characters, young scholar Hou Fangyu and a courtesan named Li Xiangjun.