History in the making

A revolutionary new television series depicts Deng Xiaoping and other former Chinese leaders. Wang Kaihao reports.

Many unknown details about the daily life of China's late leader Deng Xiaoping (1904-97) have been revealed to the public for the first time via a new TV series. The pilot episode of this 48-episode production, Deng Xiaoping During a Historic Turning Point, was screened on Channel One of China Central Television on Aug 8 to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Deng's birth, which falls on Aug 22. It gained 1.76 percent of the television audience, and the second episode reached 2.08 percent.

The production, costing 120 million yuan ($19.4 million), was made over five years, and was created after extensive interviews with Deng's family members.