The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom () is a Chinese historical television series based on the events of the Taiping Rebellion in 19th-century China during the Qing dynasty. The 48-episode series was first broadcast on CCTV in mainland China in 2000, and subsequently on STAR Chinese Channel in Taiwan and on ATV in Hong Kong.
Synopsis In the mid-19th century, China is in decline due to corruption. Hong Xiuquan and others form the God Worshipping Society in Guangxi and secretly rally their followers to start a revolt against the ruling Qing dynasty.
In 1851, the Jintian Uprising breaks out in Guiping, Guangxi, marking the start of the Taiping Rebellion. The rebellion spreads like wildfire and many territories in southern China are taken by the rebels, with the Qing forces unable to stop their advance.
In 1853, the Taiping rebels capture Nanjing, renaming it Tianjing, and making the city the capital of their Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Afterwards, they split their forces to conquer lands in the north and west.
Just as the Taiping Rebellion reaches its peak, tensions among the rebel leaders culminate in the Tianjing Incident of 1856. Since then, the rebellion starts going downhill. Meanwhile, the Qing government, with support from the local Xiang and Huai armies and foreign powers, eventually suppresses the rebellion by 1864.
Cast
Production 115 million yuan of the total budget of 150 million yuan was used for constructing the set, which is located in Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong.
See also Twilight of a Nation
References
External links Taiping Tianguo on Sina.com Taiping Tianguo at the Chinese Movie Database Taiping Tianguo page on ATV's website Transcript of an interview with the history consultants of Taiping Tianguo