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Historical drama

The Burning of the Imperial Palace (1983): Cast & Plot

The Burning of the Imperial Palace (1983) movie poster

The Burning of the Imperial Palace is a 1983 historical drama directed by Li Han-Hsiang, starring Tony Leung Ka Fai as 咸丰, Zhang Tielin and Liu Xiaoqing. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes.

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The Burning of the Imperial Palace (1983) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 28m (88 min)
Director
Li Han-Hsiang
Genres
Drama , History
Original language
Chinese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Burning of the Imperial Palace About?

The premise of The Burning of the Imperial Palace without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A dramatized account of the Second Opium War’s climax in 1860, when Anglo‑French forces marched on Beijing and looted the imperial Yuan Ming Yuan, the Old Summer Palace. The film portrays the siege, the pillaging of priceless artworks, and the palace’s ultimate destruction, highlighting the cultural loss inflicted upon China.

The Burning of the Imperial Palace Themes & Keywords

· 1 tag
  • destruction
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Cast & crew

The Burning of the Imperial Palace Cast & Characters

Tony Leung Ka Fai leads the cast as 咸丰, with Zhang Tielin as 奕訢 and Liu Xiaoqing as 慈禧太后. Directed by Li Han-Hsiang; 6 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Burning of the Imperial Palace

· 2 more
From the director

More from Li Han-Hsiang

More films directed by Li Han-Hsiang: The Golden Lotus: Love and Desire, The Empress Dowager, Tiger Killer and Return of the Dead.

Full filmography
Plot

The Burning of the Imperial Palace Plot Summary

What happens in The Burning of the Imperial Palace from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1852, a 17-year-old girl named Yulan is chosen for the Imperial Harem during a triennial selection. Her beauty is renowned, yet a centuries-old vow tied to the Yehenara clan keeps her at a distance from the Xianfeng Emperor, Tony Leung Ka Fai, who is wary of stirring old rivalries with the Aisin Gioro clan. The court’s politics loom as a background to a personal destiny that will test loyalties, traditions, and the future of a nation.

Full summary

The whole story of The Burning of the Imperial Palace, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Burning of the Imperial Palace?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  10. Question 10: not answered

In what year is the young Yulan chosen for the Imperial Harem?

Details

The Burning of the Imperial Palace Also Known As

2 alternative titles: “Burning of Imperial Palace” and “火烧圆明园”.

Also known as
  • Burning of Imperial Palace
  • 火烧圆明园

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FAQ

The Burning of the Imperial Palace FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Burning of the Imperial Palace, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Burning of the Imperial Palace?

The Burning of the Imperial Palace runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).

When was The Burning of the Imperial Palace released?

The Burning of the Imperial Palace was released on September 20, 1983.

Who directed The Burning of the Imperial Palace?

The Burning of the Imperial Palace was directed by Li Han-Hsiang.

More films by Li Han-Hsiang

Who is in the cast of The Burning of the Imperial Palace?

The Burning of the Imperial Palace stars Tony Leung Ka Fai as 咸丰, Zhang Tielin as 奕訢 and Liu Xiaoqing as 慈禧太后, among 6 credited actors.

Does The Burning of the Imperial Palace have a post-credit scene?

No. The Burning of the Imperial Palace has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Burning of the Imperial Palace in?

The original language of The Burning of the Imperial Palace is Chinese.

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