XI'AN unveils the new and astounding discoveries at one of the largest burial sites in the world, the tombs of Qin Shihuangdi, first Emperor of China.

New excavation sites, opened to view exclusively for this documentary, have revealed amazing new statuary which raises a host of questions about the life of this man of powerful personality and his impact on the empire.

The two parts of the documentary each deal with a special chapter in the life of Qin Shihuangdi, corresponding to his two lifelong obsessions:

Part 1: The man born to be Emperor (259-221 AD) 

And, because supreme power was not enough for him:

Part 2: The Emperor who craved immortality (221-210 AD)

The archaeological investigations serve as the guiding thread as the story unfolds, the content and context of the excavations forming the transition between the different epochs of Qin Shihuangdi's life.