Li-Ho, son of a Chinese river boatman, determines to widen his horizon by a series of adventures. And he does as he climbs to an ancient temple, sees an awe-inspiring goddess, faces a tiger, catches fish in a canal, and endures a storm. Through these adventures Li-Ho learns courage and the young reader sees an exotic and richly depicted face of traditional China through the life of Li-Ho both on his river boat and his excursions.