Forbidden City Documentary, co-produced by CCTV, China International Television Corporation and National Geographic Channel, premieres in southeast Asia today.

The new production is condensed from the original 12-hour Forbidden City Documentary made by CCTV and National Geographic Channel to two hours.

Bryan Smith, executive vice president of programming and production for National Geographic Channels International, said the Forbidden City is the biggest palace in the world. Its unique and mysterious history is not as well known as the Great Wall to foreigners. The documentary will help introduce the Forbidden City to the world by exploring many cryptic corners in the Forbidden City.

The cooperation between China and the National Geographic Channel is an important step to help Chinese documentaries enter the international market.

The documentary made by CCTV covers the over 600-year-long history of the Forbidden City. A total of 300,000 copies have been released in China.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2006)