Adapted from a semi-autobiographical novel, Lai Shi, China's Last Eunuch is set in China during the decline of the last dynasty. A lot of eunuchs return home for retirement and young boy Lai Shi, seeing their affluence, decides to become a eunuch to earn more money for the family. However, after his castration, the dynasty is overthrown and the imperial family stops recruiting new eunuchs. Lai Shi therefore ends up learning Peking Opera in Beijing, but after a few years he has a chance to work in the palace - the Qing Emperor is allowed to keep his imperial way of living even after abdication. But that does not mean Lai Shi can lead a better life from then onwards...