1928年深秋，中国大地一片萧杀，一个小个子的共产党人乘船登陆上海，迎接他的是巡捕的盘查和叛徒的指认，灭顶之灾瞬间降临，但他凭着过人的智慧和无畏的胆识，化险为夷……但这仅仅是开始。他以古董商的身份为掩饰，在白色恐怖的上海，担负起运转中央领导机关的艰巨任务，随时可能遭遇逮捕，随时可能有人叛变，随时准备转移，随时准备牺牲，随时要去执行不可能完成的任务，敌友莫辨，危机四伏……但他凭着信念和忠诚，与同志们战斗在龙潭虎穴，出生入死，谱写了一曲惊心动魄可歌可泣的壮丽篇章。上海，不仅留下了他早年战斗的足迹，还留下了他铭记一生的纯真爱情。他，就是邓小平，当年24岁，时任党中央秘书长。

风烛残年的中国最后一个在世的太监刘来喜（莫少聪 饰）回忆起一生的经历……来喜十一岁净身入宫，在革命风起云涌的年代里，他出宫后与招弟（温碧霞 饰）母子组成了一个家庭，做小贩度日。革命党人秋凤（吴家丽 饰）与胡贞忠（黄日华 饰）行刺要人，被来喜偶然救下。太监大总管小德张（罗文 饰）欣赏来喜的京剧唱功，威逼其再度入宫，不愿连累招弟的来喜只得将母子俩送去广州，投河自尽，岂料被秋凤和胡贞忠救下。革命党人反对建立满洲国，计划盗窃张作霖（郑则仕 饰）收藏的清朝玉玺，秋凤因来喜见识过玉玺随邀请他加入革命。胡贞忠与来喜潜入张作霖的大帅府做卧底，不料事情败露，来喜被荒淫的张作霖娶为姨太太，婚礼当夜，先行逃出的胡贞忠带领革命党人强攻大帅府，希望能救出来喜……

Officer Lei tracks down embezzler Chen Ziliang in Mongolia. Although Chen insists he was innocent, Lei must escort him across China to bring him to justice, but it soon becomes apparent that an unknown organization wants Chen killed.

The story of the Opium War between China, in the waning days of the Qing Dynasty, and the British Empire, in the 1830s, and the subsequent takeover of Hong Kong by Britain; through the eyes of the key figures, fiercely nationalistic Lin Zexu, and opportunistic British naval diplomat Charles Elliot.

The film charts the fortunes of two women who loved each other as sisters, but whose paths diverge when the Revolution brings an end to their old way of life in the brothel.

1991 film by Zhang Yimou