In October 1938, the Japanese army took Wuhan city, and the city of Changsha got in imminent peril. A young woman, Xiang Xiang (Andy Yang), is introduced by her family to Gu Qingming (Wallace Huo), an officer who returned to defend Changsha. But Xiang Xiang's boldness and Gu Qingming's arrogant pride makes their first meeting like water and fire. Xiang Xiang's family choses someone other than Gu Qingming as her fiance.

On the day of Xiang Xiang's engagement, Chiang Kai-Shek gives the secret order to burn down the city of Changsha, and due to improper direction, the great fire leads to a tremendous disaster. The flourishing ancient city is destroyed overnight. As there's no time to run, numerous people are caught in their sleep and burnt to death, including the entire family of Xiangxiang's fiancé.

And so, on this piece of scorched earth, the heros and children of Changsha, together with the people of Hunan, are facing the challenge of resisting the iron heel of the enemy. Xiang Xiang and Gu Qingming eventually fall in love, but the war is pulling them apart...