The Wind Blows North

In 1958, to meet the coal supply needs of the Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company, the state began investing in the construction of Shicheng, a mining town. The eldest daughter of the Shi family, Shi Xiuying, was forced to give up her chance to become a factory worker and unexpectedly became an apprentice at a photography studio. Her father was among the first generation of coal miners. Her younger brother, Shi Jianying, and her beloved, Deng Fengshou, became part of the second generation. With her camera, Shi Xiuying captured the changes of the era as the small town grew from an uninhabited wasteland into a thriving economic hub with a growing population. The Shi family also caught the wave of economic growth as the industry flourished.

Their daughter, Deng Chunfeng, and her childhood sweetheart, Wang Yingbo, were influenced by their parents and grew deeply attached to their hometown. They vowed to return after completing their studies and help build it.

However, Shicheng was facing a transformation, and the fortunes of the Shi family were changing dramatically.

Two people with completely different personalities went from misunderstanding each other to knowing and loving each other. Together, they kept pace with the changing times, overcame countless difficulties, broke free of old conventions, and fulfilled their youthful ambitions as they successfully adapted to a new era.

Three generations of coal miners held fast for half a century, from building the first coal factory, to the coal boom spreading everywhere, and then to supporting the nation's environmental goals as resources ran dry. Young people with different outlooks each struggled on their own front, writing an epic story of their times.