Da Ming Palace

For centuries Da Ming Palace was the centre of the Tang Dynastys supreme power, and as far as the Chinese were concerned, the centre of the world.
It was three times the size of la Palais de Versailles, four times as large as the Forbidden City, and twelve times as big as the Kremlin.
It was an architectural miracle, dwarfing everything in northwestern China as a testament to the power and glory of that age. As a Chinese poem of the time proclaimed:
It seems as if built by gods; every state should kneel down in front of it.
But this imperial palace of the Tang Empire (618907AD) was no more.
In 904 AD, nearly three hundred years after its construction, Da Ming Palace was completely destroyed in a savage fire, its legend buried beneath the rubble.
Now an epic film brings that legend to life once again. The movie Da Ming Palace is based on the work of Chinese and Japanese archaeologists who for over 50 years have scoured the ruins of the palace for insights into imperial life during one of Chinas greatest eras.
Using 3-D digital reconstruction of the palace and dramatic reenactment, documentary maker Jin Tiemu takes us back to Da Ming Palaces heyday.
Its the story of the first and only empress of China, Wu Zetian, who developed the palace into an architectural marvel. Here she granted audience to her officials and guests from foreign countries, some of whom remained as pampered hostages, to improve Chinas political leverage.
Da Ming Palace reached its apex of luxury when Wu Zetians grandson, Emperor Li Longji seized the throne in 712 AD. Under his supervision, the palace grew in stature as lavish alterations were made.
The palace became the centre of politics and art in Chinas golden age. But the old emperor fell in love with his charming daughter-in-law. This love affair was to trigger a series of disasters for the Tang Empire culminating in bloody warfare and the destruction of the Palace.
The place where courtesans and concubines had knelt at the feet of successive emperors for hundreds of years disappeared from history.
The palace no longer exists, but its legend is resurrected in Jin Tiemus remarkable documentary Da Ming Palace.