China, 1925. Los militares gobiernan Pekín y, aunque en la ciudad la situación política es inestable, hay una constante en la vida cotidiana: la ópera, un espectáculo donde incluso los personajes femeninos deben ser representados por hombres. Entre los nuevos muchachos destinados a ser estrellas de la ópera de Pekín se encuentran el delicado Douzi y Shitou, que le toma bajo su protección. Ambos forjan una gran amistad, y Douzi se enamora profundamente del chico mayor. Como Douzi tiene la belleza de una mujer, le forman en papeles femeninos, mientras que al atlético Shitou le entrenan principalmente para papeles militares. Entre las óperas que estudian se encuentra "Adiós a mi concubina"...
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.
Set in the days of Anti-Japanese War. Doctors of Humanity Hospital save a wounded patriot, but the event is informed to Japanese secret service. How can the wounded be rescued finally?
Chen Yunxuan and his daughter Xiujuan escape from China to Taiwan in 1949 but leave Chen's pregnant wife behind. 30 years later Xiujuan meets her mother and a brother she never knew.
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.