Our nation is steeped in profound cultural heritage. Now there are more accessible and engaging ways to discover the nation. Following the ‘advancement of education through technology’ and vigorous implementation of national digital strategy, countless treasurable cultural heritages have been ‘resurrected’ through digital technology—transcending the boundaries of time and space to reach everyday citizens. From the comfort of home, students and tourists can now ‘set foot in’ national museums and ‘roam’. With the guidance by virtual docents, they can walk around to explore the artifacts from different dynasties, making cultural discovery of the nation effortless and captivating.
A Treasure Trove of Civilization at your Fingertips
Civilization of our nation stretches deep into history, leaving a rich trove of cultural treasures. On holidays, crowds gather at heritage sites and museums national wide to admire ancient artifacts and explore curated exhibitions up close. As digital innovation of our country accelerates at a remarkable pace, national museums have implemented smart navigation systems and immersive technologies—making this cultural legacy more accessible than ever before.
1. Digital Palace by The Palace Museum
Visiting the website of the Digital Palace feels like stepping through the gates with a ticket in hand. Visitors can virtually roam the ‘Panoramic Palace Museum,’ reaching every accessible zone and taking a closer look at each hall and corner tower. With interactive tools, participants can zoom in and examine architectural layouts and annotated details precisely. With just a single click, people can effortlessly switch between the four seasons and fully immerse themselves in the beauty of the Palace Museum all year round.
The Digital Palace also features the ‘Digital Cultural Relic Library,’ ‘Famous Paintings in the Palace Museum,’and ‘The Digital Treasure Hall,’ presenting the priceless collections of the palace in high-definition imagery. Visitors can zoom in to examine intricate details, rotate the exhibits for a full view, and access rich annotations and historical context. These features definitely satisfy the curiosity of those eager to explore Chinese culture in depth.
2. Virtual Exhibitions by National Museum of China
The ‘Virtual Exhibitions’ offers curated retrospectives from various museums, covering themes that span ancient China to the modern era and the path of national rejuvenation, with rich and captivating contents, forming a comprehensive digital resource hub collectively. The ‘Virtual Exhibitions’ recreates physical exhibitions by showcasing display panels, cultural relics, videos and audio clips, together with the ambient music from the exhibition hall, along with the guided commentary by the docent, online visitors can enjoy an immersive experience that mirrors an in-person museum tour.
3. Cloud Exhibition of Chinese Civilization by National Cultural Heritage Administration
The ‘Cloud Exhibition of Chinese Civilization’ consolidated digital resources from various museums and archaeological institutes according to dynastic chronology, breaking down institutional barriers to build a unified, open, and interconnected cloud-based repository of cultural heritage. The platform features an AI-powered virtual guide named ‘Ai Wenwen’, who engages users through interactive Q&A sessions to explore the customs and historical transitions across various dynasties—making cultural learning even more enriching and appealing.
A Historical Odyssey beyond Time and Space
Besides virtual museum tours, VR (Virtual Reality) technology offers a sensory journey which transcends time and space, vividly reconstructing ancient historical scenes with lifelike detail. Visitors can feel as though they are truly present and relive the humanistic spirit of bygone eras. Some museums offer VR experiences by theme, allowing visitors to step into the shoes of historical figures and take part in grand events of the past—bringing a heightened sense of realism and enjoyment to both exploration and learning.
1. VOYAGE INTO SHU: Exploring Sanxingdui and Jinsha • An Immersive Archaeology VR and Exhibition
Jointly organised by China Tourism Group Corporation Limited [China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong limited] and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, in collaboration with the Sanxingdui Museum and Chengdu Jinsha Site, the exhibition is held at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. This special showcase breaks away from the traditional static way of exhibition— ‘artifacts-in-display-cases’. Instead, it introduces immersive features such as the ‘Exploring Sanxingdui VR Experience’, the ‘CAVE Immersive Ancient Shu Archaeological Site’, and the ‘Dual-Screen Linked Archaeological Interactive Experience System’. These innovations allow visitors to engage deeply with the excavation process and appreciate the rare artifacts of Sanxingdui, offering a in-depth understanding of the ancient Shu bronze civilization.
The VR experience lasts approximately 30 minutes and is divided into four chapters. Participants can encounter a magnified Bronze Standing Figure, virtually ‘tour’ the Sanxingdui archaeological park, learn about archaeological process, and traverse digital scenes. Altogether, they can experience the intertwining and evolution of past and present history.
Date of Exhibition: 1 October – 15 November 2025
（Source of Image: Website of Hong Kong Maritime Museum)
2. Beyond the Mural: Echoes of The Tang Dynasty
The Xiaxi Museum is featuring the Tang dynasty tomb murals for the first time. Showcasing iconic works such as Polo Match, Hunting Expedition, Envoys’ Portrait, and Bird Watching and Cicada Catching, with the integration of VR technology and advanced spatial algorithms, it creates an immersive digital experimental artwork. Emerging solutions and technologies from the rigorous historical research and digital reconstruction, the exhibition delivers cinematic visual effects that transform static murals into historical scenes which is ‘accessible, interactive and evocative’. Visitors can ‘step into the paintings,’ traversing time and space to witness the grandeur of Tang aristocratic life and engage directly with national treasures in a vivid, lifelike setting.
Video:
在 Instagram 查看這則貼文
Date of Exhibition: 9 September 2025-31 December 2026
The Historical World inside the Phone
Aside from virtual museum tours, there are plenty of engaging ways to explore history. Some mobile games are weaving historical narratives into interactive gameplay, enabling players to absorb knowledge of history seamlessly while having fun.
1. ‘Jiang Nan Bai Jing Tu’ ( Download via iOS/ Google Play)
This mobile game is set in Ming dynasty Jiangnan, recreating a flourishing ancient society inspired by traditional Chinese landscape painting as the artistic blueprint. Players turn into city designers, creating blueprints, constructing buildings, and managing urban layouts to generate income. They also oversee the daily lives and occupations of residents, capturing the rhythms of everyday life or leading everyone to embark on unexpected adventures. Players are engaged in the storyline to explore the vibrant social fabric of Ming-era Jiangnan, encounter historical figures, and satisfy their curiosity about Chinese ancient vestige.
2. ‘Treasure Hall , Precious Pavilion’ (Download via iOS)
This mobile app features a collection of national treasures and classical Chinese paintings, allowing users to search by category, artist, or year—and appreciate masterpieces anytime, anywhere.
These digital platforms not only breakthrough the limitations of time and space but also harness interactivity and engaging design to spark learning motivation. Historical culture has evolved from factual ‘knowledge’ into immersive ‘experiences,’ fostering a deeper sense of identity and pride in Chinese civilization among students.
