The film explores how rapid development is impacting people's lives in modern China, looking at three different locations: the seemingly peaceful Yangshuo in the rainy south, the harsh coal mining region of Wuhai in the dry north, and the sprawling city of Chongqing on the Yangtze River. Through their personal stories – reflecting on what they've lost, their current struggles, and hopes for what's to come – the protagonists offer a nuanced portrait of the Chinese people navigating a rapidly changing nation.