The History Through the Lens Academy is recruiting students in Beijing. Anyone across the country who loves history and photography is welcome to apply. The entrance competition has three rounds: "Searching for Eight Scenic Spots in Yanjing," "Pearls Hidden in Temples," and "1978, A World of Its Own." Candidates are admitted after completing all three rounds. Qu Mai, eager to prove himself; Geng Ling, driven by a desire for revenge; the innocent Ruan Xiaole; and others all join enthusiastically because of their love of history and photography. Together, they embark on a semester-long course following a route south, where they compete in one challenge after another. In the end, they all successfully complete their first semester and build deep friendships and romances.
