As the first domestic triple-A video game in China, Black Myth: Wukong has taken the gaming world by storm, sparking a boom in related cultural industries, including cultural tourism with fans flocking to the historical and cultural sites featured in the game.
The game, which amassed a record 1.2 million pre-orders in just over a month, is based on Sun Wukong, the iconic figure from Journey to the West -- one of China's four great classical novels that was frequently adapted into TV series, movies and games over the years.
To craft a truly immersive, world-class game, the game company Game Science spent years capturing footage from historical and cultural sites across China.
The game features 36 landmarks in China, with 27 of those in north China's Shanxi province, including the Yungang Grottoes, Fogong Temple, Yuhuang Temple, and Xuankong Temple.
They used real-world scanning technology to upload digital models of ancient buildings, statues and sculptures into Unreal Engine 5, a real-time 3D creation tool, laying the foundation for an ultra-realistic experience.
Today, these popular sites have become must-visit destinations for young Chinese travelers. In Shanxi, which boasts the highest concentration of historical buildings in China, young visitors are particularly drawn to the 28 constellations at the Yuhuang Temple in Jincheng City and the Sakyamuni Pagoda at the Fogong Temple in Yingxian County.
"In fact, our ancestors created great works. The colorful sculptures of the 28 constellations are amazing. How to unlock and present their beauty requires efforts," said Li Shiqi, associate professor at the Art Design Institute of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
The pagoda, well known as the Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County, was built in 1056 with tenon-and-mortise work. The 67.31-meter-high building is the tallest and oldest wooden multi-story structure in the world, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
"After the release of Black Myth: Wukong, I discovered that the pagoda is one of the settings, so I decided to visit," said a tourist.
The Chinese elements showcased in this sensational game are introducing global gamers to a mythological world filled with charm and imagination. From touring grand mountains and majestic rivers to visiting time-honored temples accompanied by the rhythm of Chinese opera in this game, more international fans are beginning to explore traditional Chinese culture.
Chinese hit game Black Myth: Wukong drives cultural tourism
The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened in Beijing on Friday morning with hotspots around the world and security cooperation taking the center stage.
The opening ceremony was attended by more than 600 official representatives from over 100 countries and international organizations, including nearly 300 heads of official delegations and officials from various countries. The forum is held with the theme of "Promoting Peace for a shared future".
China's Defense Minister Dong Jun attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. He first read out a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping to the forum. Then, he mentioned in his speech the current hot issues including the Ukrainian crisis and the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict.
Dong said "there is no winner in a war and a conflict, and there is no way out if we just confront each other." He also stressed that promoting peace talks is the only way out, and the fundamental way out.
Two plenary sessions were held after the opening ceremony. At the first session, participants exchanged views on "security cooperation and prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region", and official representatives from Vietnam, Singapore, Pakistan, Fiji, Russia and Malaysia spoke at the meeting.
The theme of the second plenary session was "multipolarization and the direction of international order", and defense ministers or military generals from six countries including Cambodia, Tanzania, Cameroon and Iran delivered speeches.
The topics all focus on security hotspots. Participants include not only developing and developed countries, but also representatives, experts and scholars from the closely-watched countries such as the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.
In interviews, many participants said that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is committed to promoting dialog, exchanges and cooperation among defense agencies, militaries and international organizations of various countries, and is playing an active role in promoting regional security and stability and maintaining world peace and development.
The ongoing Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which runs until Saturday, will also hold eight parallel group sessions, focusing on themes such as the correct way for China and the United States to get along, European security trends and Middle East peace vision. This year, a new session on outer space security has been set up for participants to jointly discuss issues on outer space security governance.
Initiated in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a high-level security and defense forum in the Asia-Pacific with significant international influence.
11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opens with focus on hotspots, security cooperation
