The story takes place in the historic Chinese city of Xi’an and follows the life of one family across an entire year.
Rather than presenting unrelated texts, the series invites readers to step into the everyday world of the characters. Daily routines—going to school, working, cooking meals, meeting friends, or visiting the park—become short episodes that gradually build a larger story.
The program covers twelve months, with new stories appearing every week. Each week includes seven short episodes, adding up to 336 stories over the course of the year. Each one is about three hundred characters long, short enough to read in just a few minutes.
Because the same characters appear throughout the year, their personalities slowly become familiar. The family includes parents balancing work and home life, children dealing with school and friendships, and grandparents who share traditions and experience. Over time, the characters begin to feel almost like people you know.
Many of the stories focus on small, relatable moments. A teenager might be nervous about speaking in front of the class. A parent may be trying to solve a problem at work. A grandmother might practice tai chi in the park with friends. These everyday situations make the language feel natural and alive.
The city of Xi’an adds another layer to the experience. One of the oldest cities in China, Xi’an is famous for its deep history and cultural traditions. At the same time, it is a modern city filled with technology, busy streets, and fast transportation.
Within the stories, both sides appear naturally. Characters send messages on WeChat, pay with QR codes, and travel on high-speed trains. Yet family traditions remain important, especially during holidays and celebrations.
The story begins in January, when winter settles over Xi’an and families prepare for the Spring Festival, the biggest holiday of the year. From there, the narrative moves through the seasons—spring celebrations, summer school life, autumn gatherings, and winter traditions.
By December, an entire year has passed in the lives of the characters. Readers will have shared their routines, their challenges, and their celebrations.
What begins as a series of simple stories gradually becomes something more: a window into everyday life in China, told through the experiences of one family living in the city of Xi’an.
