Detective Chinatown 2016

In a twist of fate, Qin Feng (Liu Haoran) unexpectedly finds himself in Bangkok after facing rejection from a prestigious police academy. Seeking solace and mentorship, he turns to his so-called “uncle,” Tang Ren (Wang Baoqiang), who is reputed as a top detective in the underbelly of Chinatown. Unbeknownst to Qin, Tang is actually a cunning con artist working alongside the bumbling police sergeant Kon Tai (Xiao Yang). The plot thickens with the murder of Sompat, a crucial suspect in a big-time gold heist, dragging Qin and Tang into a complex web of intrigue.

As the police zero in on Tang as the prime suspect in Sompat’s murder, he reluctantly relies on Qin, who surprisingly unveils his exceptional talent for crime-solving. The duo navigates the perilous streets of Bangkok, pursued by both the police and Sompat’s criminal associates, all desperate to claim the stolen gold. Their misadventures spiral into a thrilling game of cat and mouse.

Attempting to lay low with Tang’s enchanting landlady, Xiang (Tong Liya), the duo unwittingly attracts the attention of the robbers, who show up just as Kon Tai and his rival Huang Landeng (Chen He) arrive, leading to a hilariously awkward showdown.

As Qin digs further into the mystery, he uncovers Tang’s involvement: on the night of the murder, Tang received an enigmatic call to deliver a box containing a Buddha statue from Sompat’s workshop at the stroke of midnight. With their cover compromised and reputations in jeopardy, Qin and Tang resolve to stay in Thailand, with an unconventional strategy to untangle the threads of deception.

Their investigation leads them through the dark alleys of Bangkok, including a chaotic seafood market, a junkyard, and ultimately, Sompat’s workshop. During one intense night, they narrowly evade a showdown with the robbers, only to learn that Tony, Huang’s trusted aide, has been scheming against him.

As the stakes rise, Qin steps into a labyrinth of conspiracy, leveraging his keen intellect as he and Tang sift through surveillance footage linked to the murder. While feigning evidence retrieval, Tang deftly distracts the police, allowing Qin to breach Huang’s computer, extracting vital information buried within. Their sleuthing takes them into a wild chase through Sompat’s personal life, leading to a significant revelation: Sompat’s son disappeared a year ago, with a crucial lead pointing to Snow (Zhang Zifeng), a former classmate of the missing boy.

The investigation turns harrowing when Qin and Tang find themselves captured by Mr. Yan, who imposes a daunting three-day ultimatum to recover the stolen gold. The pair separates; Qin reunites with Snow, while Tang evades Huang’s relentless henchmen. Through careful digging into Snow’s background, Qin discovers that her stepfather works at the nearby junkyard, placing him in their crosshairs.

Back at the workshop, they hypothesize that the murderer evaded detection for an entire week, vanishing with the very box Tang was delivering just before the crime. Their theories are abruptly interrupted when the masked assailant attacks, setting the workshop ablaze and forcing a narrow escape.

With tensions boiling, Qin and Tang realize that Xiang has fallen prey to Tony’s machinations, prompting a daring rescue mission. Once victorious, they rush Xiang to the hospital where they unwittingly stumble into a chaotic shootout between the police and the remaining thieves. They return to Snow’s home, only to find her on the brink of collapse from an overdose. Desperate, Qin rushes her to the hospital, where hidden truths behind Sompat’s murder begin to surface from her cryptic journal entries.

Snow’s tragic past reveals that she was a victim of Sompat’s brutality, a secret her stepfather discovered, fueling his quest for vengeance against Sompat. This revelation intricately binds the gold heist and the murder, unraveling layers of deceit.

In a heart-pounding climax, Qin and Tang lead the police in a high-speed pursuit through Bangkok, ultimately revealing the stolen treasure’s hidden location—a statue concealed within the workshop. As Snow recuperates, Qin and Tang relay their discoveries to the authorities, amidst a grim assembly including her stepfather, who meets a tragic fate when Kon’s car crashes into him during his escape. In an ironic twist, Kon is rewarded with a promotion to deputy chief for his bravery, while Huang grapples with his injuries.

As the truth crystallizes, Qin gains a profound understanding of Sompat’s twisted motivations—his actions driven not by lust, but a distorted quest for justice rooted in his son’s disappearance. Sompat misjudged Snow, mistakenly believing her involved in the absence of his child. This complex web of moral ambiguity leaves Qin wrestling with the implications of justice versus vengeance.

In a surprising end, Qin and Tang receive an invitation to an Intel center, where they are presented with a new case in New York, promising yet another challenge that will test their detective skills to the limit.