Contents include:

    - Biographical accounts of all the emperors, from Qin Shihuangdi, the great 'First Emperor', to Puyi, the 4-year-old last emperor, giving a history of these fascinating individuals - from great warriors and scholars to villainous debauchees
    - Timelines throughout with at-a-glance visual guides to the length and important events of each emperor's reign
    - Datafiles for every emperor listing key information, such as name at birth, wives and concubines, temple name, and location of tomb
    - Extensive quotations from contemporary sources that enrich the narrative
    - Numerous sidebars and special features ranging from the Great Wall of China to the Opium War
    - With 368 illustrations, 126 in colour, including portraits of the emperors, art treasures from imperial tombs and detailed maps

- The Early Empires
- Confusion, Reunification and The Golden Age
- Chaos, Diplomacy and Invasion
- Revival and Collapse