Prominent historical figures such as the generals Li Guang, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, as well as the diplomats Su Wu and Zhang Qian, also make appearances as supporting characters in the series.

The production cost for The Emperor in Han Dynasty ran high, with a budget of 50 million yuan, covering extensive battle scenes, period costumes, props and huge backdrops.

The shooting of the series began in 2003 and coincided with the SARS outbreak, causing manpower shortage and delays in production.

Post-production began in 2004 and marketing clips started to appear on television talk shows and the Internet later that year.

While some liberties were taken with historical details, The Emperor in Han Dynasty was generally well received by viewers as a faithful portrayal of history.