This is the true story of Gladys Aylward, a London palormaid who dreamed of going to China as a missionary. Despite the fact that she was unable to obtain organizational backing because of her lack of education, she detemined to reach her goal without help of anyone. And so, in 1930, equipped with her railroad tickets, her Bible, ninepence in coin and two one-pound traveler's checks, she traveled alone across Siberia -- and her amazing adventures began. Her life became a series of dramatic events. She quelled a prison riot; she rescued a child from a child-dealer; she converted the exalted Mandarin of the district to Christiainity. She is most famous for the rescue of 100 homeless children which she led in an epic journey across the wild mountains to safety during the war with Japan.