THE FIRST EMPEROR: THE MAN WHO MADE CHINA follows the first emperor of China’s legendary rise, reign and fall, and employs cutting edge science to unlock the secrets of his tomb. The emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di, is compared to Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar for commanding millions, uniting China and building the Great Wall. Though revered in the East, most westerners have had little knowledge of the great warrior, until now. The Discovery Channel transports viewers to ancient China, bringing the Emperor’s story to life on Chinese New Year 2006, Sunday, January 29, 9-11 PM ET/PT. Filmed on location in China, THE FIRST EMPEROR: THE MAN WHO MADE CHINA marks unprecedented access for a western film crew to Emperor Chin’s legendary seven square mile underground burial complex. Filled with more than 8,000 figures, including the terracotta army of soldiers, the Emperor designed it to celebrate his political and military power, and to achieve continued glory in the afterlife. Two thousand years after his death, ground-penetrating radar combined with CGI illustrate the shape, layout and design of the largest unopened tomb in the world, revealed on-screen for the first time. The special also proves true the legend that Emperor Chin was buried amid a map of his empire flowing with rivers of liquid mercury, which at the time was believed to prolong life.

Starring:

Hi Ching, James Pax, Richard Ng, Samuel West, Tom Wu, Vincent Wong

Genre:

Documentary, Drama