The dance drama is set in the Tang Dynasty and it tells about the daughter, Yingniang, of a poor painter who works in the famous caves of Dunhuang. An evil magistrate is interested in Yingniang but a Persian merchant rescues her and takes her to Persia where she becomes familiar with local people. When she later returns to China, the magistrate tries to take revenge on the Persian merchant. However, by sacrificing his life, the girl’s father is able to save the merchant. In the final scene Yingniang denounces the magistrate and he is punished.