Through three loosely connected stories centered on individuals, Huisken and Menegoz depict the changes in urban and rural areas as well as the development of remote regions. A traveling tinker from Old Beijing observes the industrialization taking place around him. A young couple from the village of Minh Tu Sian harvests rice using traditional methods but is already celebrating their wedding in a modern way. Engineering graduate Tschao Lin travels to Shanghai by ship up the Yangtze River to help build a railway line. In the finale, a difficult stage—bridging the wild river—is completed.