Lt is the beginning of the 20th Century, and deep in the heart of the Dunhuang Caves, the old Taoist Priest watchman, Wang Yuanlu is doing his rounds of the Mogao Grotto. Suddenly he stumbles upon an unknown cave full of Buddhists Documents. He picks one up and as he slowly unrolls it, he discovers a painting that would take him on a compelling and touching journey back in time......

A long long time ago in the 3rd dynasty, a young painter by the name of Mogao lay dying of thirst in the scorching sands of the desert. He had lost his way in the pursuit of his art and his passion to find the famous Dunhuang caves.
As he drew his last breath a troop of soldiers arrive.
Their leader, a young War Lord ,takes pity on the young man and orders the soldiers to give him a water flask in the shape of a new moon. But on seeing the painting in Mogao′s hand, the war lord seizes it and rides off.

Weeks later in the middle of the Minsha Mountains, the residents of the Dunhuang Caves are celebrating the completion of the new Grotto. Mogao, now fully recovered, has joined them as am Artist and is working away on a new creation..
Suddenly the cave is full of the Soldiers he met before. To his great surprise the War Lord who had saved him in the desert turns out to be a beautiful young woman, called Yueya.
Alone in the caves Yueya seeks out Mogao and returns his Painting to him, and as the two discuss their passion for Art they slowly fall in love.
Yueya′s father the Great General arrives and ,incensed that his daughter is falling in love with a mere artist, he wrenches her away and takes her to his camp in the desert..

The Great General has decided that wayward daughter needs to find a husband as soon as possible. He summons all of the Great War Lords and Princes who travel the Silk Road to come and pay court to her.
However Yueya is unmoved by their declarations and decides to return to the arms of her beloved Mogao.
The General discovers that his daughter is missing and. realizing that she has returned to her young artist, he summons his troops to march back to Dunhuang.

Yueya enters the grotto, where Magao is working on his masterpiece. She rushes into his arms.
Filled with Joy and Love Magao is inspired to greater heights, but a dark cloud descends upon the lovers. The General′s Army has surrounded the Caves.
Mad with rage the General draws his sword and rushes at Mogao, but as he is about to strike him down, Yueya throws herself in front of her lover and takes the full force of the blow.
The General is mortified, and consumed with remorse; he leaves the two lovers alone. Mogao, now owes his life for a second time to his beautiful lovers and is overcome with grief.
But out of this grief comes a renewed passion to complete his masterpiece.
Years go by ,the masterpiece is finished, and The Spring which appeared on the spot where his beloved was killed is crystal clear.
Mogao throws himself into the water and his spirit is carried into the celestial layer to be forever reunited with his true love and inspiration Yueya.