When young Bilike finds an ordinary ping pong ball, he and his friends take to flights of imaginative whimsy and embark on a journey to find the source of the mysterious unknown object. Bilike’s old grandmother says the ball is a glowing pearl sent by the gods, but the boys are skeptical after it fails the test. Since none of their other family members are able to offer any more insight, the three boys trek to the faraway monastery to consult the wise lamas. But even the grasslands’ most knowledgeable inhabitants are stumped. When a television show finally reveals that the object is the “national ball of China,” the determined young scouts set off to return the ping-pong ball to the Chinese capital, where an even bigger adventure and more amusing trouble await them.

Ning Hao was born in Shanxi, China in 1977. Ning Hao’s debut feature Incense (2003) was premiered at Locarno, and seized world attention when it won the Grand Prize at Tokyo Filmex, and went on to win the Gold Prize in the Asian DV Competition at Hong Kong IFF. The film was also awarded Best Film of 2004 by HK Arts Centre, and shown in official selection at seven other international festivals, namely San Sebastian, Vancouver, Munich, Vienna, Sydney, California and Taiwan South Film Festival. Ning Hao’s latest film, Mongolian Ping Pong (2004) was selected for Berlin International Forum and Hong Kong IFF.

Producers: Lu Bin, He Bu, Lan Ruilong, Ning Hao Screenwriters: Nig Jao, Sing AIna, Gao Jianguo Cinematographer: Du Jie Editor: Jiang Yong Music: Wuhe Cast: Hurichabilike, Dawa, Geliban, Yidexinnaribu, Badema, Jin Laowu