Act 1, Scene 1 -- a forest in Ancient China
The curtain rises and two butterflies dance in the Prelude to Act 1. This is followed by the appearance of the Nightingale in a tree. The Nightingale dances the Song of the Nightingale, introducing the theme that will accompany her throughout the ballet. The nightingale and butterflies depart and a taskmaster appears with a group of slaves. The taskmaster treats the slaves harshly. One of the slaves attempts to run away. The slave is caught, but before the taskmaster can inflict punishment, the Nightingale appears and convinces him not to punish the slave. This action is featured in the Dance of the Slaves and Taskmaster. Princess Lotus Flower, one of the members of the emperor's court, appears and, together with the taskmaster, dances a Pas de Deux. She notices the beauty of the Nightingale's song and asks her to come to the Emperor's Court. The scene finishes with the Finale to Scene 1, honoring the Nightingale and celebrating the Nightingale's decision to visit the Emperor.
Act I, Scene II -- the Emperor's Court
The curtain opens and there is a procession of the members of the Emperor's court. The Emperor is then entertained by several groups. First, he is entertained by a group of young dancers in the Children's March. Then, he sees a group of dancers performing the colorful Fan Dance. After this, the emperor is entertained by a Buddhist-inspired dance, the Dance of a Thousand Hands. Then, a group of dancers perform the physically rigorous Martial Arts Dance. Finally, the Nightingale is introduced by Princess Lotus Flower and the two do a dance together. At this point, the music master enters and does a dance, revealing his character as someone who has devious plans for the Nighitngale. The act ends with all of the dancers from the scene dancing together to celebrate the Emperor's discovery of the Nightingale. At the end of the dance, however, the Nightingale is led to a cage on the order of the Emperor. The Nightingale finishes the act by dancing a slow dance to sad music.
Act II -- the Emperor's Court
The act opens with the Nightingale dancing a lament inside her cage. The Music Master returns to taunt the Nightingale in the Return of the Music Master. After this, the Mechanical Nightingale is presented as a gift to the Emperor and performs the Song of the Mechanical Nightingale, which resembles the playing of a music box. Then, Princess Lotus Flower enters and dances with the music master. After another mechanical dance from the artificial nightingale, the real nightingale escapes from her case with the help of Princess Lotus Flower. Not caring about this, the Emperor watches one more performance of the mechanical nightingale, but this time, the mechanical nightingale breaks down in the middle of the dance. Horrified, the Emperor falls ill and retreats to his bed. He is haunted by a group of demons who do the Dance of the Demons in front of him. On the edge of death, he hears the call of the Nightingale once more, which restores him to health. All of the dancers from the ballet enter onto stage and do a celebratory dance with the Emperor and the Nightingale as part of the Grand Finale.