Magnolia, the headstrong daughter of an army captain in pre-communist China, refuses to obey the order of an arranged marriage. She goes on an arduous journey along the Tea Road to seek the general who arranged the marriage, determined to convince him to cancel it. In the treacherous mountains, she falls into the hands of the bandits, who also abduct a panda. While rescuing the panda, she runs into her betrothed, a handsome chief, who insists on escorting her home despite her attempt to escape.