Zheng creates buzz abroad even before home debut

Director Zheng Xiaolong's upcoming epic series The Legend of Mi Yue has garnered attention from overseas markets even before its Chinese mainland debut.

The 81-episode series, based on the life of ancient China's first female politician Mi Bazi, will be aired by Beijing Satellite TV and Shanghai-based Dragon TV from Nov 30.

Set in the pre-Qin period (the Qin Dynasty reigned from 221 BC to 206 BC), the tale chronicles the life of Mi - the great-grandmother of China's first emperor Ying Zheng - who turns from being a simple girl into an iron-handed power behind the throne.