AN exhibition celebrating the record-shattering video game “Black Myth: Wukong” has opened in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province — the very landscape that inspired much of the game’s art and atmosphere. Titled “Black Myth: Wukong Encounter Shanxi,” the show invites fans to step into the game’s lush, mythic world and explore the real-world cultural and architectural influences behind its stunning visuals.

The exhibition presents a fusion of physical craftsmanship and digital innovation. It features painstakingly crafted scale models of iconic temples, pagodas, and sculptural details, which echo the province’s ancient sites. These physical miniatures are integrated with projection mapping, interactive screens, and augmented-reality elements to recreate signature scenes from the game, allowing visitors to experience these environments from entirely new perspectives.

Inspired by the classic Chinese epic “Journey to the West,” “Black Myth: Wukong” became an international phenomenon upon its release last August, reportedly selling more than 10 million copies within its first three days. The title has since garnered widespread critical acclaim and a string of prestigious awards. These include Best Action Game and the Player’s Voice award at The Game Awards 2024, a place on Time magazine’s list of the year’s best games, and multiple Golden Joystick accolades.

Beyond celebrating the game’s artistic achievements, the exhibition powerfully spotlights Shanxi’s profound historical legacy. The province is home to more than 28,000 registered immovable cultural relics and boasts over 500 wooden structures dating from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) or earlier. By framing the game within this rich historical context, the exhibition masterfully celebrates the dialogue between ancient cultural traditions and contemporary digital storytelling, encouraging visitors to discover both the virtual legend of Wukong and the real-world heritage that brought it to life.(SD-Agencies)