Auntie Hu in Chongqing makes a living by running an extremely inexpensive small hotel. Although she lives in poverty, she sometimes relieves her guests and builds a colorful garden out of discarded garbage, a poetic space to achieve self-redemption and comfort her sick son. Spanning nine years, the film is a true reflection of the spiritual world and resilience of a mother and her son.

在高速發展的中國，像蘇這樣的流浪者的生存空間已經越來越小。在杭州一條正在建設的二十四號大街旁邊，蘇和情人琴開設了一家簡陋的餐館，但因為沒有經營許可證，他們和其他一些非法住戶總是受到政府的驅趕，處世不驚的蘇和琴在另外的地方又建立起一個自己的餐館，但不久又被政府拆除。蘇決定回到故鄉，那裡有著他曾經的家庭和兒女，同時也有著琴的家人。但是已經在外闖蕩了30多年的蘇，家人對他的到來並不歡迎。導演通常默默地觀察蘇和琴的歷險，但偶爾也會介入，當蘇開始有不道德的行為欺騙他人時0.24號大街有著豐富多彩的主人公，影片展現了現代化進程中中國的轉折，和那些追趕不上這個國家飛速發展腳步小人物的故事。
China doesn’t have a lot of room anymore for peddlers like Su. He set up a ramshackle restaurant next to a construction site on 24th street in Hangzhou, but of course he neglected to obtain a permit. Unsurprisingly, the authorities send him and the other illegal dwellers away. Unfazed, Su and his girlfriend Qin find another place for their restaurant, only to be sent away again. Su then decides to go back home to the countryside, where his wife and children, along with Qin’s family, still live. After being away for 30 years, the couple isn't exactly welcomed back with open arms. Filmmaker Zhiqi Pan usually observes Su and Qin’s adventures without comment, but does step in on occasion, such as when the unscrupulous Su is trying to cheat people. With its colorful main character, 24th Street offers an original twist to the story of modernizing China—and those on the fringe who can’t keep up.

90年代初，私家侦探职业在中国各个城市中悄然兴起，他们一般以帮人调查婚外情为主要业务，由于中国国家法律对侦查权的严格控制，私家侦探行业在道德和法律上都备受争议。
老方是从业较早的一位老侦探，他游走在法律边缘,穿梭在城市各个角落,为人调查婚外情、跟踪取证。影片透过对老方和寻求老方查案委托人的真实纪录,来展现经济高速发展的现代社会中,人们婚姻情感上面临的种种困境。
导演阐释
《侦探》主要想展现中国当代社会中年人的情感危机。影片记录了步入中年的老方因自身的情感困惑而干上了私家侦探,并进入这个行业，为同样在情感上遇到麻烦的客户调查取证,收取报酬。《侦探》这个题材从2005开始着手，刚开始是为老方这个世固、圆滑还带有一点理想色彩的人物所吸引，拍摄一段时间之后，发现找他查案的客户的情感经历更能吸引我，于是就想透过这个充满争议的行业，去展现都市化进程中现代人的情感困境