It was specially produced to mark the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution.

The series follows a chronology of the major events that happened throughout the life of Sun Yat-sen.

It includes, among other events, the formation of the Tongmenghui, the Wuchang Uprising, the fall of the Qing dynasty, the establishment of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai's rise and fall from power, and the National Protection War.

Produced by Tianjin Television and the Propaganda Department of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the CCP, the series started its planning work in 2008 and completed its preparations by the second half of 2009.

A press conference was held on 24 October 2010, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to announce the series.