The second series of "24 hours", China's first TV show to focus on crisis management, returns to the screen on Feb. 12 on China Education TV following the success of its debut season. 
The TV series shows how staff at the Emergency Management Center (EMC) help people to escape natural disasters and overcome crises, such as SARS, tsunamis, mine explosions and terrorist attacks. 　　

"Such disasters and crises not only endanger people's lives and property, but also tests the government's emergency response capability," Huang Bailian, one of the chief producers said. 　　

He said Chinese society, with its per capita GDP exceeding 1,000 US dollars, is facing surging social problems brought about by unbalanced development. The excessive use of natural resources, the destruction of the ecological system, coupled with natural disasters and emergencies, may all intensify social problems. 　　

"With such a large population of 1.3 billion, the Chinese government faces a harsh challenge," Huang added. "Therefore, the making of '24 hours' is very necessary and in demand." 　　

On January 26 last year, the Chinese State Council passed a national emergency response bill, saying that China will establish a reporting and managing system on natural disasters, accidents, public health and social security, with all walks of life mobilized and all governmental administrations coordinated. 　　

From January to November last year, 1,855 lives were lost to natural disasters in China, incurring 199 billion yuan (25 billion US dollars) in direct economic losses, and ranking the most serious in recent years, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA). 　　China has launched a national natural disaster response 29 times since the start of 2005, evacuating 15.15 million victims, the MCA said. So far, a disaster monitoring and reporting information system has been launched nationwide, down to county-level government administrations. 　　

The Chinese have experienced the panic created by SARS, which demonstrated that public recognition of emergencies is important, Huang said. "24 hours" will teach the public how to avoid or escape disasters. 　　

Zhong Chengxiang, vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circle, said "24 hours", as a fictional story based on real life, satisfied the need for a combination of science and art that was missing from Chinese television. 　　

Huang admitted that "24 hours" was only at the embryonic stage of this type of television and Chinese producers should learn more from western ones in terms of plot design and technological innovation.