Black Myth: Wukong video game breathes new life into ancient Chinese architecture tours
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People watch the Chinese action role-playing game 'Black Myth: Wukong' at a store during its launch day in Beijing, on Aug 20, 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
TAIYUAN, China – The Aug 20 release of China’s video game Black Myth: Wukong has not only captivated millions of players, but also ignited a surge of interest in ancient Chinese architecture.
Within an hour of its launch, the game soared to the top of Steam’s Most Played Games list, with over 2.2 million concurrent players at its peak.
Beyond the numbers, the game also inspires players to explore the real-world locations behind its in-game settings. Adapting the Chinese classic Journey To The West, it reimagines the story of Sun Wukong, one of the most beloved characters in literature.
But what sets this game apart are its stunning graphics, immersive gameplay and the deep connection it fosters with Chinese traditional culture. Players not only enjoy the game for its combat and storyline, but also for its meticulously recreated historical sites and ancient architecture.
Beijing player Liu Xiaoyu expressed admiration for the game’s high fidelity to Journey To The West and its authentic depiction of ancient architecture, adding: “The historical buildings in the game are so well-integrated with the storyline. I’m planning to visit the filming locations soon to experience the cultural heritage first-hand.”
China is home to a vast number of well-preserved ancient buildings, and for a game steeped in historical aesthetics like Black Myth: Wukong, this presents a unique advantage.
Rather than relying solely on artistic renderings, the game developers utilised 3D scanning technology to authentically recreate these architectural wonders. This approach not only reduced costs, but also provided players with a real glimpse into China’s architectural past.
“The traditional culture is there, and once you see it, you’ll fall in love with it,” said Mr Yang Qi, the game’s art director. “What we do is simply use the game to bring it a bit closer to people.”
The game’s impact extends beyond the virtual world. More and more young people like Mr Liu are becoming increasingly interested in traditional culture and architecture.
A man trying out action role-playing game Black Myth: Wukong during its launch day in Hangzhou, China, on Aug 20.
In response, Shanxi Province, one of the game’s key filming locations, is actively promoting its rich cultural and tourism resources to meet the growing demand.
Known as the “treasure trove of ancient Chinese architecture”, it boasts 531 nationally protected cultural heritage sites, accounting for 10.5 per cent of the country’s total – the highest in China.
According to reports, Black Myth: Wukong features 36 filming locations across the country, with 27 of them in Shanxi. One such location is the Xiaoxitian Temple in the province’s Xi County, where tourists flock to the exquisite Daxiong Hall, a 100 sq m building featuring stunning 400-year-old suspended sculptures.
“We receive around 1,500 visitors a day since July, a threefold increase compared with the same period last year,” said the scenic area’s service centre director Liu Xiaogang. Most of the visitors are fans of Black Myth: Wukong, who travel long distances by plane, train, and car to reach the remote mountain location.
A cardboard cutout of the Monkey King character on action role-playing game Black Myth: Wukong, during its launch day in Beijing on Aug 20.
Online travel platform Fliggy reported that on the day of the game’s release, tourism interest in Shanxi doubled compared with the previous month.
Sites such as Yuhuang Temple, Chongfu Temple and Tiefo Temple, featured in the game, saw a surge in popularity, with travellers from Beijing, Zhejiang, Henan, Shaanxi and Shanghai showing the greatest enthusiasm to “follow Wukong through Shanxi”.
People wait in line to play the Black Myth: Wukong video game at Gamescom 2023, a computer and video game industry event, in Cologne, Germany, in August 2023.
To capitalise on this trend, the Shanxi provincial department of culture and tourism launched an ancient architecture tour on Aug 22, unveiling a “Follow Wukong through Shanxi” route map and related cultural products.
The surge in tourism and related industries driven by the game could inspire more industries to collaborate with the gaming sector, fostering innovation and prosperity across the broader cultural landscape, said associate researcher Wang Peng at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. XINHUA