Digital News

　　From Dream of Mindu, an immersive light and shadow journey blending the virtual with the real, to The Glory Belongs to Foochow Arsenal, a foldable theater experience reconstructing historical scenes, from the digital rebirth of intangible lacquerware heritage to the fervent popularity of cultural and archaeological exploration, Fuzhou is currently witnessing a surging wave of cultural digitization. Emerging formats, innovative models, and immersive experiences are appearing in rapid succession.

　　A recent field visit was paid to key tourist attractions, and cultural and museum institutions in Fuzhou to explore how the city is revitalizing the cultural DNA of its blessed landscapes through deep integration of digital technology and cultural and historical heritage from three innovative digital cultural experiences, uncovering new growth drivers for the cultural tourism economy.

　　New Business Formats

　　Digital Technology Innovating Cultural Expression

　　On April 23, we visited the China Arsenal Culture Park and witnessed a spectacular performance at China’s first foldable and progressive theater - the performance theater of The Glory Belongs to Foochow Arsenal. The audience, including a family led by Ms. Wang, was moved to tears. “The performance was remarkable, and the technological setting was truly breathtaking. It felt as though we were aboard a great ship, traveling through a temporal tunnel and returning to that magnificent historical era. The children were enthralled and said they wanted to go home and read more about the history of shipbuilding.” said Ms. Wang. The family, still immersed in the experience, then proceeded to visit the adjacent Museum of Foochow Arsenal.

　　Naval history expert and chief producer of The Glory Belongs to Foochow Arsenal, Mr. Chen Yue, explained that the show integrates large-scale mechanical structures, 3D mapping shows, 360-degree holographic gauze projections, water curtain projections, and ground projection technologies. Together, these multimedia elements construct a new digital art dimension atop traditional stage narratives and artistic expression. “The entire theater functions like a three-dimensional book. The mechanical installations that form each scene are ‘folded’ within the book’s structure. As the pages turn, each scene unfolds in turn, creating an awe-inspiring, multi-layered immersive space.”

　　Since its debut on December 23, 2023, The Glory Belongs to Foochow Arsenal has been met with wide acclaim for its grand historical storytelling, innovative stage format, and emotionally resonant performance. It has welcomed nearly 100,000 visitors and was named one of the “2024 Top 10 New Cultural Tourism Scenarios in Fuzhou” and a featured digital experience site at the Seventh Digital China Summit in 2024.

　　The fusion of artistic creativity and cutting-edge technology has provided an increasingly vibrant stage for the development of high-quality performing arts. The Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To the West National Chic Immersive Theater, a highlight of Sanfang Qixiang, currently ranks first in sales of virtual reality (VR) products in the Fuzhou region of Meituan.

　　“We integrate VR technology with the intellectual property of Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty, allowing the audience to embody disciples of Di Renjie and engage in adventures alongside characters such as Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng,” said Ms. Chen Qiuping, a staff member at the theater. To further enhance the visitor experience, the venue plans to introduce more advanced interactive elements, including augmented reality (AR) and VR, and to invest in the development of immersive VR content rooted in local culture.

　　In recent years, Fuzhou has vigorously promoted the integration of frontier technologies with the essence of Mindu culture, giving rise to a host of innovative digital cultural experiences. Dream of Mindu offers a seamless fusion of physical and virtual realms, showcasing the unique charm of Mindu culture, while Infinite Ocean - Immersive AI-generated Art Exhibition presents an interactive digital light-and-shadow experience inspired by the maritime culture distinctive to Fujian, attracting visitors from across the country.

　　New Models

　　“Accessible” Cultural and Museum Masterpieces

　　“I am Digital Human Mr. Shen, courtesy name Zhongkang, a native of Houguan County, and the founder of bodiless lacquerware.” At the Shen Shao’an Lacquerware Museum, located in Zhuzifang, Gulou District, the founder of the bodiless lacquerware appears as a digital human, captivating visitors as he vividly narrates the story of lacquer art’s heritage.

　　On site, digital technologies dynamically reconstruct the intricate process of lacquer layering. Vivid, saturated colors and interactive functions, such as the ability to highlight and trace ornamental patterns, offer a visually engaging and immersive experience.

　　“Digital technologies allow for more precise and comprehensive documentation and preservation of lacquer patterns, safeguarding them from loss amidst the passage of time,” noted Ms. Shi Liling, Director of the Shen Shao’an Lacquerware Museum. “Moreover, these innovations help align traditional lacquerware with modern aesthetic preferences and market demands, thereby catalyzing its contemporary revitalization.” She emphasized that digital transformation is encouraging museums to embrace emerging technologies and innovative mindsets, transcending the limitations of traditional curation and collection, and injecting new vitality into cultural heritage transmission.

　　This digital evolution has heralded a curatorial revolution—from static “window displays” to immersive “time-space navigation”. In the “Digital Treasure Pavilion” of the Fuzhou Museum, a yellow-glazed, blue-and-white gourd-shaped vase from the Kangxi reign rotates on screen. With a simple touch, the artifact “speaks,” revealing its high-resolution imagery and detailed provenance. At the Minhou County Museum, a gamified archaeological simulator allows visitors to engage in an experiential role as archaeologists. Operating a half-human-height machine, they “excavate” relic fragments from the ancient Yang site, bringing buried history to life at their fingertips.

　　The restored Liang Jingjiu Residence in the Liangcuo block now serves as the Exhibition Hall for the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee. As a vital platform for showcasing World Heritage highlights, representing the Chinese image, and promoting Mindu culture, this space features a “Time-Space Door” that enables visitors to embark on a metaverse journey. Through VR panoramas, they may explore China’s and Fujian’s representative World Heritage sites and revisit the profound “Fuzhou Imprint” of the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee.

　　Emerging Scenarios 

　　Experiencing the Unique Charms of Urban Cultural Heritage

　　What new cultural vitality may emerge when ancient landmarks meet cutting-edge digital technologies?每到周末，冶山春秋园都变得更加热闹。“找到了，可以合成铁块。”在AR元宇宙剧本游“冶山守护者”里，玩家小李化身守护者，在冶山多个景点完成任务。Each weekend, Mount Ye Spring and Autumn Park buzzes with visitors. “Found it! We can now forge the iron ingot!” In the AR metaverse narrative game Guardians of Mount Ye, players such as Xiao Li take on the role of heritage guardians, completing missions across multiple historical landmarks within the park.

　　“This is Fuzhou’s first permanent AR metaverse narrative game within a scenic area. The game weaves together elements from various scenic spots of Mount Ye into an overarching storyline, digitally reconstructing historical scenes through AR technology. It renders history tangible and scenic locations interactive,” explained a representative from the Gulou District Culture and Tourism Investment Company.

　　As digital technologies further integrate with Mindu culture, Fuzhou’s cultural landscapes continue to evolve and diversify, offering residents a renewed sense of urban identity.

　　The new site of Fuzhou Children’s Library opened at the end of 2024, blends traditional reading with modern technology, featuring interactive spaces like a holographic projection camp and an edutainment playground. In front of a digital music, chess, calligraphy, and painting experience machine, children hold brushes to freely write and practice on the screen, experiencing the full creative process of calligraphy. At the VR science corner, elementary school student Ding Qinqin puts on VR goggles and “soars” through the cosmos, marveling at the planets.

　　The Fuzhou Cultural Center has adopted smart classrooms, interactive blackboards, digital nameplates, karaoke booths, recitation studios, big data screens, and art-focused MOOC displays, creating immersive cultural learning environments. Meanwhile, the Jin’an Cultural Memory Museum perfectly blends the traditional aesthetics of ancient houses with modern display technologies such as naked-eye 3D and holographic projection, innovatively creating a cultural product memory wall that vividly presents a Jin’an-style version of the Along the River During the Qingming Festival painting. Meanwhile, Fuzhou Library’s cloud reading applet offers readers access to approximately 38,000 e-books, along with a wealth of digital resources including journals and classic lecture videos.

　　Projects such as Theatrical Journey through Nantai and Fishing Lifestyle of Xiongjiang have been recognized as exemplary and outstanding cases of digital tourism application scenarios in Fujian Province.