A quest set in contemporary China as two children race to find Imperial Chinese treasure to save their own farm in England. Lily was born in the Year of the Dragon. She's an impulsive child who jumps at the chance to visit her maternal grandparents in China for New Year. Mum and Dad can't be with her because their farm in England is in financial trouble. Lily and her brother Tom travel to China and both are fascinated by the different way of life. They hear about their ancestor -- Grandfather Tsui, who was a Court Artist in Imperial China, over 300 years before -- and who helped to hide Court treasures from being plundered. He left behind replicas, in a beautiful wooden box -- Lily's heirloom. When Lily finds a scrap of paper covered in Chinese characters in the box, she senses it is a clue to where the real treasure is hidden and she determines to seek this out. Together with her brother and her aunt, Lily travels to a country village between mountains and paddy fields...to search for her heirloom...her destiny.

 

There are 144 pages in this book. This book was published 2000 by HarperCollins Publishers .

Mary Ellis was a primary school teacher for many years and the inspiration for her stories often come from work with children. Mary is married to the illustrator, Andy Ellis. They live in Barnes with their daughter Matilda.