Turn Around is based on the story of Cheng-chung Wang, a passionate Taiwanese teacher who has won multiple educational awards. After graduating from the National Kaohsiung Normal University, he is assigned to teach at a school located at the rural Zhongliao in Nantou County, which is lacking in educational resources. As he is preparing to leave at the end of his assignment, the area is met with the deadly 921 earthquake. Seeing the students breaking down in tears and asking for his return, Wang decides to stay with the school to improve the education of the students.