Footprints on the high plateau

Adapted from the real-life stories of grassroots officials in Xizang, the film follows Tong Xiaofan, a recent university graduate who leaves her hometown to work as a cadre in Tsonyi county. In her early years, unable to endure the harsh environment and profound loneliness of the remote area, she manages to get transferred to Lhasa by passing a civil service examination.

However, after realizing her deep connection to the land, Tong chooses to return to Tsonyi and dedicates herself to helping local herders increase their household income. Aided by a local official, an ethnic Tibetan who later falls in love with her, Tong works alongside fellow cadres to improve their living conditions. Their efforts ultimately lead to the relocation of the herders from the extreme high altitude of over 5,000 meters to a lower area at around 3,600 meters.

For Cai, what first drew him to the vast landscape of northern Xizang was its raw, untouched nature and profound sense of mystery.

"Tens of millions of years ago, the northern Tibetan Plateau rose from the sea, and much of this terrain has barely been touched by humans. That's what makes it so compelling — to walk here is to feel as though you are leaving the very first footprints, almost like stepping onto the moon," says Cai.

After discovering that the plateau had rarely been featured in films — apart from some scientific footage — Cai envisioned using the cinematic lens to unveil its mysteries. His dream was realized in 2016, when he served as executive producer alongside director Rao Zijun, leading a crew of 48 members on a 3,500-kilometer journey to shoot the documentary Hidden Land in Northern Tibet.