Young Minli lives near the Fruitless Mountain, in a poor village that has not seen good fortune for many years. She spends her day working hard in the fields, and at night she listens to her father spin tales about Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon (who knows the answer to everything). Minli believes these enchanting stories, and she embarks on a journey to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask him how she can bring good fortune to her family. Along the way, she meets many extraordinary friends, including a talking goldfish, a powerful king, and a dragon who can't fly!