AllMovie

Two young children leave mainland China with their father, illegally hitching a train ride into the city where on departure, they are spotted by the police and the unfortunate father is slapped in jail. Meanwhile, the two enterprising youngsters escape and have to make it on their own somehow, while searching for their Aunt Tina in the big city. Little do they know that Aunt Tina is a friend of the policeman who nabbed their father, providing one more avenue for ultimately finding the children. The little brother and sister end up meeting several other youngsters, some of whom are survivors with a good knowledge of the streets, while another is a wealthy boy simply curious about street life. The grit and optimism of the children, their nerve and their sense of right and wrong, steer them through the worst parts of this urban world of poor shanties, colorful markets, fortune tellers, and millions and millions of pedestrians. Bolstered by their attitude, it is not difficult to imagine that at least a few of their fondest wishes (the "mirages" or dreams they want to see materialize) might just come true.