TV program on 'National Treasure' turns into huge hit

[Photo: from VCG]

A TV program showcasing the history of many of China's cultural relics has become a huge hit.

The weekly program, "National Treasure" was first aired by China Central Television on December 3, with the opening episode showing three of China's finest cultural treasures: the painting "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains," the Large Vase with Variegated Glazes and a stone drum.

Famed actors Li Chen, Wang Kai and Tony Leung played the "national treasure guardians" of each item, reenacting the history of each artifact through historical drama.

The show quickly went viral, scoring 9.3 out of 10 points on Douban, a popular movie rating platform in China, making it one of the most popular programs of its genre in the country.

The show also made a splash on social media and online platforms. On Bilibili.com, one of China's most popular video-sharing platforms, the first three episodes were viewed over 5 million times in total.

[The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI]