Minli
Minli (her name means "quick thinking") is the main character. She endeavors on a journey to find the Old Man of the Moon who will answer her question of how to find her family's fortune.
Ba
Minli's father is a storyteller. He indulges Minli with numerous Chinese folktales including stories about the Old Man of the Moon and the Never Ending Mountain.
Ma
Minli's mother is very dissatisfied with the family's situation. She does not like for Ba to tell the stories to Minli because she thinks he is filling her head with ideas.
Dragon
Minli befriends a dragon along the way. When they first meet, he has been bound with ropes and she cuts them off of him. They continue the journey together. Dragon cannot fly.
Other Characters
There are numerous other minor characters in the book:
The Goldfish Man
Talking Goldfish
Old Man of the Moon
A-Gong/Amah
Da A Fu
the villagers
Magistrate Tiger
Jade Dragon
Buffalo Boy
Green Tiger
