Wang Ying, a 14-year-old girl from Liangshan, China, grapples with the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings as her parents work in a distant city to provide for the family. Liangshan is an impoverished region and home to the Yi ethnic group. The Wang siblings are part of an estimated 9 million 'left-behind children' in rural China, a situation that has drawn public attention due to its impact on children's development. While the children's parents earn $15 each for an 11-hour workday in Huizhou, the family struggles with the emotional and economic challenges of separation. The Chinese government, aware of the issue, is working to create a support system for such families. Amidst these challenges, Wang Ying aspires to pursue her education and move away from the margins of her country.

Songzhuang, a suburb of Beijing, has grown into China's largest artist colony, attracting over 5,000 artists with its spacious living and creative freedom. Promoted by critic and curator Li Xianting, the area flourished with a vibrant community and economic growth. However, increasing government scrutiny and censorship, particularly around the 2008 Beijing Olympics, have led to a tense atmosphere, with crackdowns on events like Li's independent film festival. The planned relocation of Beijing's municipal government to nearby Tongzhou threatens to further stifle the artistic experimentation and freedom that have defined Songzhuang.