What Is Under the Hawthorn Tree About?
The premise of Under the Hawthorn Tree in 265 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the waning years of China’s Cultural Revolution, a bright young student is sent from the bustling city to a remote riverside village for political re‑education and to help draft a school textbook. The village, cradled by the Yangtze’s misty bends and shaded by the legendary Hawthorn Tree of Heroes, breathes a quiet, timeless rhythm that contrasts sharply with the ideological fervor she leaves behind. The landscape itself feels like a living memory, its fields and modest homes echoing histories of sacrifice and endurance.
There, she meets a young soldier whose quiet sense of duty and honor draws her attention. Jing Qiu arrives with the weight of her family’s troubled past, while Lao San carries his own legacy of loss and expectation. Their connection blossoms amid the strict class divide and the lingering shadows of political upheaval, offering a tender glimpse of first love that feels both fragile and defiant. The evolving bond is set against a backdrop of communal labor, whispered rumors, and the ever‑present symbolism of the hawthorn tree that seems to watch over the village’s hopes.
The film’s tone balances lyrical imagery with grounded realism, letting the natural beauty of the countryside frame the inner turbulence of its characters. Dialogues are spare, emotions unforced, and the world feels palpable—every sunrise over the river and every rustle of leaves hint at larger forces at play. As the young couple navigates family opposition and societal constraints, the story invites viewers to wonder how love can persist when history presses so heavily upon the present, leaving a lingering sense of both melancholy and quiet resilience.
What Happens in Under the Hawthorn Tree?
The complete story of Under the Hawthorn Tree, from the first scene to the last, in 1,073 words (about 5 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Set during the final chapters of China’s Cultural Revolution, this poignant love story unfolds in a quiet village in Yichang City, Hubei Province, where a close-knit community tense with history and memory becomes the backdrop for a tender romance. The film centers on a beautiful high school student, Jing Qiu Zhou Dongyu, who is part of a group of educated youths sent to the countryside to be re-educated through labor. She arrives in Xiping village, in the Yangtze River region near the Three Gorges, where she is introduced to a symbol of local legend—the Tree of Heroes, a hawthorn tree said to have grown nourished by the blood of Chinese martyrs who were executed during World War II. This striking image lingers as a reminder of sacrifice, endurance, and the heavy weight of history on ordinary lives.
Jing Qiu is placed in the home of the village head, a setting that brings her into contact with Sun Jianxin, a geology student who goes by the nickname Lao San Sun Jianxin. Lao San’s presence is marked by a quiet sense of responsibility and honor, qualities that draw Jing Qiu to him as she starts to navigate the complexities of love amid upheaval. The two teenagers form a bond that feels intimate and sincere, even as they are keenly aware of the obstacles their relationship faces. The village, the family dynamics, and the broader political climate all converge to shape their budding romance, testing their resolve and their willingness to dream beyond the limits imposed by their world.
Behind the romance lies a social tapestry woven from past trauma and present hardship. Lao San’s father once held a high position in the military, while his mother died years earlier after being branded a “rightist.” Jing Qiu’s own family bears heavy scars from political persecution: her father was a political prisoner, and her mother, labeled a capitalist, was relegated to grueling labor to support the family. As Jing Qiu’s family struggles to survive, she grows determined to become a teacher and to contribute to her loved ones’ welfare. The film delves into how these family histories and the scars of the Cultural Revolution press in on personal choices and the course of a young woman’s life.
Despite the danger and the social stigma that could threaten their futures, Jing Qiu and Lao San fall deeply in love, and their relationship continues into the following year. Lao San makes a heartfelt promise to wait for her until she comes of age, signaling a bond that seeks to endure the tests of time and distance. Yet the lovers are pulled between their devotion to one another and Jing Qiu’s filial duties, a delicate balance that weighs heavily on both of them. The emotional core of the film rests on this tension—that love can be a source of strength and a painful reminder of the sacrifices demanded by family obligations and social expectations.
The story takes a devastating turn when Lao San contracts leukemia, a revelation that shatters the couple’s sense of security. He makes the painful choice to leave Jing Qiu as he battles his illness, a departure that Jing Qiu does not understand at the time. The separation is fueled by fear, illness, and the cruel reality of a life cut short, and it tests Jing Qiu’s faith in their shared dream. As the days pass, Jing Qiu searches for him, clinging to the hope that love can prevail even in the face of an incurable disease. The emotional weight of the narrative deepens as the couple’s memories, promises, and shared plans become fragile threads that threaten to unravel.
The culmination of the film is intimate and heartrending. Jing Qiu is eventually reunited with Lao San, but only as he lies dying in a hospital. The moment is quiet and devastating, a stark contrast to the warmth of their earlier days. In the film’s closing scene, Jing Qiu, in a voice full of sorrow and confession, calls out to the dying man with the simple, unforgettable words: > I am Jing Qiu, I am Jing Qiu. The repetition carries the weight of an entire life’s longing, a testament to a love that endured beyond circumstance and time, and a farewell that neither character could have anticipated.
The cinematic tone of the film blends lyrical imagery with grounded realism. The rural setting—its landscapes, its houses, and its daily rhythms—serves as a counterpoint to the inner storms of the protagonists. The Tree of Heroes, the memory of political upheaval, and the generational divide all contribute to a narrative that is at once intimate and sweeping: a love story written in the margins of history, a coming-of-age tale that refuses to be hurried, and a meditation on the ways in which devotion and sacrifice can define a life. The performances capture a quiet authenticity, revealing Jing Qiu’s resilience and compassion as she navigates the pressures placed upon her by family, culture, and circumstance, while Lao San embodies a steadfast, honorable heart that remains resolutely devoted even as his body fails him.
Throughout, the film treats its themes with a measured, compassionate realism. It does not sensationalize the era or its political shadows; instead, it unfolds the personal consequences of a society in flux. The relationship between Jing Qiu and Lao San becomes a lens through which viewers witness the cost of longing in a period where young lives are shaped by larger forces. The result is a narrative that feels both universal in its exploration of first love and loss, and intimately specific in its portrayal of two young people whose commitment outlives their own lifetimes.
This is a story about memory, duty, and the endurance of affection under pressure. It’s about how youth confronts history, how love can prosper in the face of social constraints, and how the human heart seeks to hold on to what matters most, even when the world around it refuses to stand still. The final image—Jing Qiu’s quiet, unanswerable call—lingers, inviting contemplation about what it means to be seen, to be remembered, and to carry a romance into the years that follow.
— The film’s core moments are anchored by the performances of the lead cast, whose on-screen chemistry makes the love story feel both delicate and real. The emotional resonance is amplified by the backdrop of a nation’s tremulous history, giving the romance a sense of gravity that lingers long after the credits roll.
Under the Hawthorn Tree Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Jing Qiu arrives in Xiping village” to “A meditation on memory, duty and love”. 11 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
Jing Qiu arrives in Xiping village
In the late Cultural Revolution, Jing Qiu is sent to the countryside and placed in the home of the village head in Xiping village near the Yangtze River. The village's landscape is punctuated by the emblematic Tree of Heroes and its memory of sacrifice. This arrival marks the beginning of her struggle to balance family duty, personal ambition, and the weight of history.
When:Late Cultural Revolution Where:Xiping village, Yangtze River region near the Three Gorges
- 2
Jing Qiu meets Lao San and a bond forms
Jing Qiu and Lao San meet as she settles in, and a quiet bond begins to form between them. Lao San is a geology student with a sense of responsibility that draws Jing Qiu toward him. Their budding connection grows amid the village's steady routines and the shadow of political upheaval.
When:Late Cultural Revolution Where:Xiping village
- 3
The weight of history shapes their world
The couple's romance is set against the scars of the era. Lao San's father once held a high military position, and his mother was branded a rightist. Jing Qiu's father was imprisoned and her mother labeled a capitalist—families marked by political persecution that haunt their daily choices.
When:Late Cultural Revolution Where:Jing Qiu's family and Lao San's family homes
- 4
Jing Qiu pursues teaching and family duty
Jing Qiu vows to become a teacher to support her family and contribute to the community's future. She pursues her studies and training while navigating the expectations placed on her as a young woman in the countryside. The goal anchors her decisions and highlights the tension between filial duty and personal aspiration.
When:Late Cultural Revolution Where:Jing Qiu's home / school area
- 5
The lovers deepen their bond
Despite danger and social stigma, Jing Qiu and Lao San deepen their love, drawing strength from shared dreams. They find private moments amid the village's rhythms of work, family duties, and communal memory. The relationship becomes a living testament to resilience in a period of upheaval.
When:Late Cultural Revolution Where:Xiping village
- 6
The following year and a promise to wait
Their romance continues into the following year as Lao San promises to wait for Jing Qiu until she comes of age. He commits to a future beyond distance and political constraints. The vow sustains their bond as the world around them remains uncertain.
When:The following year Where:Xiping village
- 7
Lao San falls ill with leukemia
Lao San is struck by leukemia, a devastating turn that shatters their plans. He chooses to leave Jing Qiu to fight the illness, a departure that she cannot fully understand at first. The separation marks the beginning of a painful, extended longing.
When:During illness Where:Xiping village and hospital
- 8
Jing Qiu searches for Lao San
Jing Qiu searches for Lao San after his departure, clinging to memories, promises, and the sense that their love can endure. She finds herself moving through the rhythms of everyday life while holding onto a belief that they will be reunited. The search deepens her own sense of purpose and endurance.
When:After separation Where:Around Xiping village and nearby towns
- 9
Reunion in a hospital as he lies dying
The lovers are finally reunited only as Lao San lies dying in a hospital. Their moments are quiet and devastating, a stark contrast to their earlier tenderness. Jing Qiu's presence becomes a final intimate exchange between two people who refused to let go.
When:Final days Where:Hospital
- 10
A farewell confession
In the closing scene, Jing Qiu whispers to the dying Lao San, I am Jing Qiu, a confession of lifelong longing and memory. The moment carries a weight of farewell neither could have anticipated. It lingers as a testament to a love that endured beyond time.
When:Ending scene Where:Hospital
- 11
The Tree of Heroes as memory
The Tree of Heroes stands as a constant symbol throughout the film, tying personal romance to the larger history of sacrifice and memory. It frames the couple's choices and acts as a silent witness to their endurance. Its presence invites reflection on what history asks of ordinary lives.
When:Throughout Where:Tree of Heroes, near Yangtze River
- 12
A meditation on memory, duty and love
The film blends lyrical imagery with grounded realism, presenting memory, duty, and affection under pressure. It uses the rural landscape to ground an intimate coming-of-age romance in the era's turmoil. The result is a quiet, universal meditation on love, sacrifice, and the persistence of memory.
When:Throughout
Who Are the Main Characters in Under the Hawthorn Tree?
4 characters, among them Jing Qiu (Zhou Dongyu), Lao San (Sun Jianxin) and Mr. Luo (Cheng Taishen): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- JQ
Jing Qiu (Zhou Dongyu)
Played by Zhou Dongyu
A beautiful high school student sent to the countryside with educated youth. She navigates a growing romance with Lao San amid the Cultural Revolution’s pressures, while carrying family scars from political persecution. Her determination to become a teacher and support her loved ones guides her through heartbreak and hope.
- 💫 Young Woman
- ❤️ Romance
- 🎓 Dreamer
- LS
Lao San (Sun Jianxin)
Played by Shawn Dou
A geology student whose quiet sense of duty and honor draws Jing Qiu to him. He promises to wait for her until she comes of age, facing the era’s constraints with steadfast loyalty. His illness—leukemia—transforms their romance into a poignant testament to devotion and the fragility of life.
- 🧭 Geology
- 💖 Devotion
- 🎗️ Illness
- ML
Mr. Luo (Cheng Taishen)
Played by Cheng Taishen
The village head who anchors the community amid upheaval. He embodies local authority and tradition, shaping the environment in which Jing Qiu and Lao San’s romance unfolds. His presence highlights how governance and social norms influence personal life in a tight-knit village.
- 🏛️ Authority
- 🧭 Tradition
- 🕊️ Stability
- JQ
Jing Qiu's Mother (Xi Meijuan)
Played by Xi Meijuan
A woman branded a capitalist, forced into labor to support her family during hard times. Her experience echoes the era’s political persecution and the cost to families, while supporting Jing Qiu’s dreams in subtle ways. Her resilience under pressure informs Jing Qiu’s sense of duty and perseverance.
- 👩👧 Family
- 🛡️ Resilience
- ⚖️ Persecution
Where and When Is Under the Hawthorn Tree Set?
Under the Hawthorn Tree is set in Xiping village, Yichang City, Hubei Province and Yangtze River region near the… (Late 1960s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 1960s
Set during the final years of China's Cultural Revolution, the film unfolds in a rural setting where political campaigns and social labels govern everyday life. Re-education through labor and familial duties create a tense backdrop for intimate choices. The period’s scars surface in conversations, memories, and small acts of resilience.
Where
Xiping village, Yichang City, Hubei Province, Yangtze River region near the Three Gorges
Xiping village sits along the upper Yangtze, a quiet rural community shaped by history and memory. The daily rhythms of farming, family life, and communal ties anchor the story as broader social tensions seep in from the surrounding era. The Tree of Heroes stands as a local legend, linking the landscape to a shared memory of sacrifice.
- 🏘️ Village life
- 🗺️ Yangtze River region
- 🌳 Tree of Heroes site
What Are the Themes of Under the Hawthorn Tree?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Forbidden Love, Memory and Sacrifice.
-
01
Forbidden Love
Jing Qiu and Lao San pursue a tender romance despite political constraints and social stigma. Their relationship is tested by family obligations and the era's fear of judgment, highlighting how love struggles to endure under collective pressure. The narrative treats their bond with quiet reverence rather than sensationalism, emphasizing its fragility and persistence.
-
02
Memory
The past haunts the present, with memories of persecution, labels, and hardship shaping decisions and aspirations. Characters carry scars that influence their dreams, from education to relationships. Memory acts as a living force, guiding actions in the face of uncertainty.
-
03
Sacrifice
The Tree of Heroes symbolizes endurance and the costs of history, framing the lovers' choices and family duties. Sacrifice appears in personal longing, illness, and separation, but is treated with restrained realism rather than melodrama. The film foregrounds quiet resilience as a form of courage.
What Kind of Film Is Under the Hawthorn Tree?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Sad
A tender yet tragic romance set against the quiet backdrop of political upheaval, moving at a gentle, melancholic pace towards a heartbreaking conclusion that lingers long after the story ends.
- melancholic
- heartbreaking
- tender
- nostalgic
- somber
- romantic
- forbidden love
- cultural revolution
- coming of age
- grief and loss
Content notes: terminal illness.
Quiz
How well do you remember Under the Hawthorn Tree? Test yourself on the story.
