In a recent exploration of AI-enabled cultural experiences, a new digital museum dedicated to the Eighth Route Army has opened its doors in Wuxiang County, Changzhi, Shanxi Province. This innovative facility allows visitors to engage with historical figures from over 80 years ago, asking questions of a medic, an art student, and an accountant who served during the Anti-Japanese War.
As visitors stand before a vast digital scroll at the Eighth Route Army cultural experience center, they are transported back in time, discovering how these individuals operated in a challenging environment where medical supplies were scarce and the arts were leveraged to boost morale and combat effectiveness.
Wuxiang County, recognized as a significant revolutionary base and often called the “hometown of the Eighth Route Army,” was home to key military organizations during the war, ensuring the legacy of the Taihang Spirit continues to flourish. This new museum employs cutting-edge digital technology to commemorate history, honor heroes, and carry forward the revolutionary spirit.
The center aggregates a wealth of cultural data focused on the Eighth Route Army, drawing from authoritative experts, museums, libraries, and oral histories. This creates an ever-evolving database of revolutionary culture that allows visitors to delve into Wuxiang’s role as an open-air “red museum.”
Upon entering, the displays highlight the contributions of prominent local figures and showcase statistics on the impact of the revolutionary movement. Interactive screens invite tourists to explore data on military leaders, delve into battle tactics, and understand personal connections that shaped the conflict.
One captivating feature is the three-dimensional map that vividly recreates famous battles undertaken by the Eighth Route Army. Detailed explanations of various combat strategies, such as mine warfare and tunneling tactics, can be accessed with just a click. Another section marks the locations of 1,190 historic sites tied to the revolution, enabling visitors to visually and spatially connect with the past.
In the “Resistance Stronghold” exhibition area, guests can engage with a digital journalist depicted in a painting, who shares how they managed to ensure the flow of information during wartime. The journalist explains, “We crafted our own batteries and inks using hemp oil and other locally-sourced materials, creating newspapers and communications that guaranteed news dissemination.”
How do these digital figures possess such knowledge? Staff members clarify that extensive historical resources and memoirs have been fed into AI models, organically enabling them to interact with visitors through simple conversations.
According to He Siyu, the secretary of the Wuxiang County Party Committee, the launch of the Eighth Route Army cultural experience center represents a significant effort to revitalize revolutionary culture through digital innovation. It exemplifies a vibrant practice of integrating red tourism with cultural heritage, highlighting the enduring legacy of the Taihang Spirit.
The Eighth Route Army cultural digital experience center has been recognized as a key project for immersive tourism in Shanxi for 2024, positioning itself as a living repository of revolutionary culture that makes history tangible in new, exciting ways.