The National Day Holiday is an opportunity for workaholics to take a break from office routines. Just staying at home is the best way to avoid the vacationing crowds. Use the precious seven-day break to catch up on the latest TV series.

Many Chinese TV stations are using the holiday for premiere of new shows.

A Chinese historical comedy set in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), "The Great Qing Court (Da Qinggong)," will show for the first time on October 2 on Beijing TV Station Channel 4. It stars Fu Biao, a renowned actor who died of liver cancer two weeks ago. According to the director, "Da Qinggong" focuses on the intrigue involving Emperor Qianlong and three of his ministers.

Even CCTV, the largest TV network in China, is jumping on the soap opera bandwagon. Its latest effort is "Moment in Peking (Jinghua Yanyun)," which is scheduled to premiere on CCTV Channel 1 on October 16. It is adapted from a 1939 novel with the same title by late writer Lin Yutang. This coming adaptation stars Zhao Wei, one of the most famous actresses from the Chinese mainland.

CCTV Channel 8, a specialized TV drama channel, will begin broadcasting the 35-part "Lotus Lantern (Baolian Deng) on October 4. The drama is based on an ancient myth. Liu Xiaoqing, one of China's top 1980s movie stars who lately has faded from the public eye, plays the part of the Empress of the heavenly court.

Viewers will also be able to count on their old favorites during the holiday. The extremely popular TV series South Korea's "Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace)," will, of course, show during the holiday. It has been shown daily at 10:00 pm by Hunan Satellite TV.

CCTV will re-edit many of its regular programs into special programs, which will be shown daily during the seven-day holiday. The selected programs are almost the best ones CCTV now produces. For example, "Lucky 52 (Xingyun 52)," "Happy Dictionary (Kaixin cidian)," and "The Chinese Dream (Mengxiang Zhongguo)."

"The Chinese Dream" is similar to "American Idol." It is a national talent competition that encourages ordinary people to participate. The winners are offered contracts from entertainment companies. Although it is not the most popular (Hunan TV's "Super Girls (Chaoji Nusheng)"has the highest ratings), it is the first of its kind in China. The finals of "The Chinese Dream" will be held between October 1 and 10, and will be broadcast live.

(China Daily September 30, 2005)