The Triad, an international Chinese mafia which is also active in Germany, has been eyeing German photojournalist Paul Konen (Jürgen Prochnow) sa a possible instrument to further its crininal enterprises. Konen arrives at the airport at Gweilin, reputedly the most beautiful province in China, famed for its dramatic topography. Awaiting Konen is Wang Liyun, the young tour guide and interpreter assigned to him by the local tourist bureau.
Before long Konen realizes that he is in love with Liyun, and gradually Liyun begins to return his affection, though in the beginning she seens to resist his advances. (In the temple scene she admonishes him the first time he tells her he loves her.) Konen even asks Liyun to go to Germany with him, but she declines.
On one of his last few days in China, Konen is accosted by a stranger who seems to know a good deal about his background. The Chinese man then proceeds to ask Konen to take back to Germany with him a can of tea leaves. Naturally Konen refuses, suspecting that the can contains illegal substances. That very evening Konen receives a telephone call in his hotel room announcing that Liyun has been kidnapped by the Chinese mafia and will not be released unless Konen agrees to take the can of tea leaves to Germany. Reluctantly Konen agrees.
After returning to Germany, Konen tries to ascertain the safe return of Liyun and is relieved to hear her say that she is free. Meanwhile Konen's editor and sometime lover resents Konen's secrecy, as she can clearly see that he is distant and preoccupied. She keeps asking him what is troubling him but to no avail.
The Chinese mafia then tries to deepen Konen's involvement with the group by forcing him to accompany them on excursions to extort protection money from business owners and other criminal activities. The mafia also knows of Konen's acquaintance with a powerful banker. When the banker refuses to help the mafia launder money, Konen is asked to deliver to the banker photographs of the individual with his young gay lover. The banker has no choice but to succumb to the blackmail.
In return for Konen's reluctant cooperation, the mafia delivers Liyun to Germany. The plot thickens when the Russian mafia, at war with the Chinese mafia, terrorizes Konen, while the German police are beginning to suspect Konen off having mafia ties.
Under great apprehension and with his back against the wall, Konen makes a deal with the police whereby he and Liyun will be given new identities and protection and, in return, hee will be wired to tape conversations with his mafia contact. The finale takes place as Konen confronts hiss mafia contact, a mid-level mafia boss, and the latter choosess to commit suicide to avoid a jail sentence.