In the final years of the Qing dynasty and the early Republic, amid the turmoil of a chaotic age, Liulichang in old Beijing remains prosperous. Tong Fengquan (Zhang Guoli), proprietor of the Fangu Hall, is a veteran antique dealer skilled at artificially aging and restoring antiques. But the trade is full of scams and costly mistakes, and even a shrewd man like Tong Fengquan cannot escape being set up and drawn into a cycle of mutual deceit. A Ru ware tripod-shaped cosmetic box leads to the closure of two antique shops and even a death, leaving Tong penniless.
