Xu Jinglei (File photo)

    BEIJING, Sep. 20 -- According to The Beijing News, production of woman director Xu Jinglei's historical drama Gong Li De Ri Zi (literal title: Days within the Palace) is expected to begin shooting this December and will be finished in May next year. 

    Now she is getting ready to capture the first snow fall of Beijing on film.

    The production will also take place in Shanxi Province, CCTV's production studio in Zhuozhou of Hebei Province and Hengdian World Studios of Zhejiang Province.     

    The epic film will tell the story of Empress Wu Zetian (624 - 705), the only female monarch in Chinese history. Xu will play the empress, the role which was turned down by Zhang Ziyi due to her schedule conflict.     

    The film is produced by Beijing-based private-own Taihe Media.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)