BEIJING - A Chinese-language television series set in a detention center started shooting on Monday in Beijing's suburb Tongzhou.

The 30-episode series "Kan Shou Suo," or Detention Center, is the first of its kind and is being shot in a real detention center.

It is inspired by author Li Di's documentary fiction "Life in the Dandong Detention Center." The book is based on Li's interviews and contacts with inmates during his seven visits to the center in the city of Dandong in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The series, centering on two heads of the detention center, will include stories about humanity and redemption.

The series is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Public Security, National Public Security Literary and Art Federation, and the Liaoning provincial public security bureau.

According to Chinese law, a detention center is for pre-trial prisoners and convicts serving short sentences of less than 12 months.

China's detention centers have been under the spotlight following several odd deaths of detainees. It led to public concern over the safety and transparency in the management of both the sites and police officers.