After a long day of driving, Lu Ziye just wants a good night's sleep and decides to stop at The Golden Triangle, a seedy but convenient motel. There he meets Shanshan, a pregnant prostitute with an open heart and a traumatic past. After surviving a strange night together and a run-in with the police, the two hit the open road, on the lam and intent on a mysterious quest. Traveling along China's scenic byways, Shanshan and Lu Ziye find that they have more in common than it first appeared.
Capturing the candor that only occurs during road trips with strangers, 1988 offers the reckless a hope of healing from the scars of life.