A virtually real performance

She says it's a refreshing experience to sit on a moving boat and see 3D images projected on the cliffs without wearing specialized glasses.

"Such a night show has the potential to encourage tourists to stay overnight, which can increase their spending on local accommodation, food and transportation, ultimately promoting local economic growth," says Song Fengsheng, manager of a local culture and tourism development company that operates the Hanxianyan scenic spot.

He notes that, despite being affected by COVID-19, they still managed to perform the show around 500 times last year.

The cast and crew, including understudies, consists of several hundred locals, primarily comprising local theater performers, dance enthusiasts, nearby villagers, and music teachers.

"That also boosts local employment," says Song.

To give tourists a more immersive experience while exploring the mythology of the Eight Immortals of Taoism at the scenic spot, tour guides, shuttle bus drivers, street vendors and other scenic area service personnel are required to dress in costumes and assume specific roles, Song adds.

So far this year, the scenic area has received more than 130,000 tourists, mainly from Jiangxi, Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

China has been promoting digital cultural consumption through various technologies in recent years. Therefore, efforts have been made to create innovative, immersive and interactive cultural consumption products using cutting-edge means.

Qu believes that immersion is an emerging trend for tourism and cultural performances and theatrical plays. "As lighting designers, we should maintain a keen sensitivity to emerging technologies," he adds.

He plans to use augmented reality glasses to further blur the lines between virtual objects and the physical environment for audiences of Wu Dao in the future.

To bolster its digital tourism initiatives, Huichang county has been vitalizing its existing tourist attractions by leveraging innovative technologies.

Huichang county, which is well-known as one of the old revolutionary strongholds, made a great contribution to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

A range of advanced systems, such as virtual hosts, digital paintings and holographic imagery, have been deployed across the county's historical sites where the Red Army was once based. These applications serve to transport visitors back to a bygone era, providing a glimpse into the revolutionary spirit that once thrived in the area.

Contact the writers at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn