生活在贫民窟哈哈区的阿光每日靠打零工赚点小钱养活自己，一天在经过了繁忙而单调的工作后返回家中时，却发现整个哈哈区陷于一片火海中。从哈哈区逃出来的难民一时间居无定所，只得或投奔亲友，或露宿街头。知名富豪刁大绅来到哈哈区向穷人赊粥，一时间成为了各报刊头条新闻。

The Tang emperor is betrayed by one of his generals, who installs himself as emperor in the East Capital. The son of one of his slave workers escapes to the Shaolin Temple, learns kung fu, and sets out to kill the traitor who killed his father.