Poster of Zhen Guan Chang Ge series , or literally The Story of Zhen Guan.

CCTV-1 will start broadcasting an epic TV drama series set in the Zhen Guan period (627-649 AD) of the Tang Dynasty on Saturday evening.

The lengthy Zhen Guan Chang Ge series , or literally The Story of Zhen Guan, consists of 82 episodes.

CCTV spent 57.4 million yuan acquiring the right to broadcast the drama, or around 700,000 yuan per episode. Despite the huge investment, many critics doubt many people will have the patient to sit through the entire series.

The series presents a fictional account of the progress the famous Tai Zong emperor Li Shimin accomplished in the construction and protection of the nation. It also depicts the royal family's internal struggle for power.

The producer drew freely on his imagination to convey the theme of national self-esteem and confidence in the series. There is little historic evidence to support a lot of the developments in the series, as the producer has freely made up a lot of details to pad out the plot.

For example, Prince An Kang is barely mentioned in the historic records, but she plays a prominent role as Tai Zong's favorite daughter. The more famous princess Gao Yang only appears briefly in the series. The producer said his vision should not be constrained by historical fact. 

(CRI January 27, 2007)