During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong favored his concubine Wu Meiniang. She fell in love with the crown prince Li Zhi, and the emperor asked her to become a nun before he died, with the promise that Li Zhi would bring her back to the palace in three years. Wu returned as the Empress Dowager and eliminated her rivals. After Li Zhi's death, Wu continued to control politics, even deposing his successor, Li Zhe, and proclaimed herself as the first female emperor, changing the name of the dynasty to Zhou. With the help of loyal ministers, Li Zhe was eventually reinstated, and the Tang dynasty was restored.

The renowned Li Li Hua plays Wu Ze Tian, the most famous woman in China's four thousand year history.

Historical film based on the life of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history

Based on events in 7th and 8th-century Tang dynasty and starring producer Fan Bingbing as the titular character Wu Zetian, The Empress of China is the story of the only woman in Chinese history to rule as an emperor.