Delving deep into China's great transformation, this moving collection of stories probes the hearts of everyday individuals caught up in the country's rapid economic development. Told with tenderness and emotional acuity, these stories introduce us to a heartbroken taxi driver, a love-struck middle-aged mother, a courageous cutting-edge designer, a drifting waiter, a Tai Chi instructor down on her luck, and a young American in search of himself. They are all denizens of China's most vibrant city - Shanghai, united by the universal longing to feel connected, to be known, and to love and be loved.