Cast members Michelle Yeoh (L) and Jet Li (R) attend the premiere for "The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" in Shanghai on Thursday, August 28, 2008. [Photo: TUNGSTAR]

The Hollywood blockbuster "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" premiered in Shanghai on Thursday night.

Both Chinese leading cast members, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh, showed up at the event to see the movie directed by Rob Cohen and written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.

With the August 1, 2008 release in the US, the mummy series is now a trilogy, with the latest offering taking audiences to ancient China.

The role of Dragon Emperor is played by Jet Li and is based on Qin Shi Huang, ruler of the Qin Dynasty, and possessor of a mysterious strength.

Rob Cohen, who takes a strong interest in Oriental culture, said the film was not strictly based on Chinese history. He wanted it to be a blend of history and imagination, a kind of Oriental myth.