Despite Kuang Hsu's enthronement as the last reigning Emperor of China, his ability to rule effectively is overshadowed by the ever-present power of the Dowager Empress.

A band of fighting Ming Dynasty loyalists branded as enemies of the state are driven underground following the burning of the Shaolin Temple by Qing Dynasty officials. Due to a misunderstanding, Shaolin kung fu prodigy Fong Sai-yuk is duped into helping Qing agents to capture leading Shaolin rebel Hung Hei-gun. Upon discovering his mistake, Sai-yuk teams up with the remaining rebels to free Hei-gun before his planned execution. Plotting to stop them is General Che Kang, a formidable Tibetan kung fu master who commands an army of fighters including four deadly Tibetan llamas.

Emperor Chien Lung uses disguises to experience life among his subjects.

Legendary fighter Wu Song is sent to prison in Mengzhou province after murdering his sister-in-law and her lover. There he meets with the prison officer Shih En, who saves Wu from the baton punishment required for new prisoners. Wu learns that Shih's restaurant, "The Delightful Forest" has been occupied by Chiang Chung. Wu returns to the restaurant-- A place he's dined in previously.

清朝光绪年间，走私食盐集团首脑徐老虎(刘永)与白寡妇(恬妮)，因清官李振彪（白彪）拒不受贿，同时两江总督又责令严缉私盐，徐老虎和白寡妇二人都面临被捕危险。白寡妇为免同僚落网，遂私自前往官府与李振彪协议自己投案，李振彪念及曾与徐老虎及白寡妇亡夫结义，遂允白寡妇之要求。白寡妇被判处绞刑，李振彪为了避免总督介入此案，进而节外生枝，遂派人送毒药给白寡妇。徐老虎惊悉白寡妇独力承担罪责更被判处死刑，复仇行动随即展开……

Police corruption is the theme of this brutal harbinger of the bleak "new wave" crime thriller. Pai Piao, Danny Lee, and "Venom" Sun Chien star as idealistic police school graduates who run afoul of such vicious, murderous depravity that the cop who is killed first could be considered the lucky one.

In the 18th century, Emperor Chien Lung makes a journey into Southern China.

When Ti Lung and David Chiang left Shaw Brothers, they returned a year later after learning directing and defied their former studio heroics making films with social leanings. Directed by Ti, The Young Rebel is one such film. Fatherless as a child, Hsiang (Chiang) supports his mother. When gangsters kill his mother, he kills in revenge. Unlike his swordplay heroes, Hsiang admits guilt, expresses sorrow and is imprisoned

Zhao Wuji, son of the leader of the Zhao Clan, embarks on a tragic adventure full of intrigue to avenge his father, who is beheaded by a traitor working for the rival Tang Clan.