Lamps of Hope Along the Frontier Road

The young teacher Wu Huai feels disillusioned after returning to his hometown, and disgusted by his relatives fighting over property. Determined to make something of himself, he finally sets off for Xinjiang, full of passion, to work as a teacher supporting the region.

He expects to make his mark in the city, only to discover he has been assigned to a rural teaching outpost in Karamay.

Conditions are harsh, students are few, and the children face difficult circumstances. Wu Huai, who had been complaining about his surroundings, gets to know a student named Aishan and discovers that the boy has a talent for long-distance running. Wu Huai decides to help him find a way out of the frontier, and to secure funding to expand the school.

At this tiny teaching outpost, he gives everything he has, devoting himself to education and keeping its lamp burning bright.

Along the way, he and the teacher Zuli develop feelings for each other. In the end, Wu Huai stays in Karamay, where he and Zuli work together to build up education in the rural townships.