Based on the real life story of an incident in 1946 during the Chinese Civil War, the film involves a communist reconnaissance team soldier Yang Zirong who disguised himself as a bandit to infiltrate a local gang of bandits, eventually helping the main communist force to destroy the bandits. Based on the novel "Tracks in the Snowy Forest" by Qu Bo.
Taking Tiger Mountain was the very first model film produced during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Set during the civil war in 1946, it follows a detachment of the People's Liberation Army in Mandchuria as they are fighting a group of bandits hiding in the mountains. Based on a novel from the 50s, Taking Tiger Mountain was first a revolutionary opera before being made into film by director Xie Tieli.