The author attempts to bring ancient China of the Han Dynasty to life in the eyes of the reader, through his study of the daily lives of the people who lived, worked, entertained, and socialized in the Chinese territory.
The reader becomes an observer of one of the most characteristic 24-hour periods in ancient China and its capital, Chang'an, through the eyes of 24 people of different professions, social classes, and occupations. A doctor, a tomb raider, a soldier, a farmer, a dancer, are just a few examples.
The book visualizes both the society of the former Chinese empire and its structure in a period of prolonged economic and cultural prosperity, as well as the individual, personal dramas and struggle for survival of its inhabitants.