An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 23, 2023 shows a view of the Stork Tower, also known as Guanquelou in Chinese, in Yongji City of China's Shanxi Province. The Stork Tower in Shanxi Province, the Tengwang Pavilion in Jiangxi Province, the Yueyang Tower in Hunan Province and the Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei Province, four famous landmarks in China's central region, attract tourists with exquisite architectural art, magnificent scenery and profound history and culture.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
The Shanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism in north China's Shanxi Province officially announced its collaboration with Black Myth: Wukong, China's first 3A game (high cost, high volume, high quality). Netizens expressed their desire to travel to Shanxi to experience the same route as in the game.

Black Myth: Wukong is an action role playing game based on Chinese mythology, developed by Game Science. The game is inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and follows the adventures of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King.

Since the final trailer for the game was released on Thursday, it has garnered over 10 million views across video platforms within just four days. The game has repeatedly made headlines since its pre-sale announcement, with reviews from around the world full of anticipation and praise.

The video features scenes from the game's CG trailer shown at the Summer Game Fest, highlighting local cultural landmarks such as Little Western Paradise, Yuhuang Temple, and Iron Buddha Temple.

Many players have been calling for Shanxi's tourism department to launch cultural tourism activities related to Black Myth, including specialized travel routes, detailed guides, gameplay strategies, completion certificates, and merchandise.

"We have been inundated with requests from all directions - some seeking customized travel routes, others looking for detailed guides," said the Shanxi Department of Culture and Tourism. "Rest assured, we have carefully noted every expectation."

Previously, the department released a promotional video featuring Shanxi's ancient architecture, showcasing the comparison between in-game scenes from Black Myth and real-world sites such as ancient temples and pagodas. The video highlights Shanxi's rich cultural heritage.

Viewers can explore the South Chan Temple, Iron Buddha Temple, Guangsheng Temple, and the Stork Tower, among other sacred sites and natural landscapes, just like in the game.

The Shanxi Cultural Media Center stated that the ancient buildings, caves, and sculptures featured in Black Myth are just the tip of the iceberg of Shanxi's traditional culture. They welcomed everyone to experience Shanxi firsthand.

Preparations are underway for a special event titled "Follow Wukong's Footsteps and Tour Shanxi," aimed at creating a unique cultural experience for players and travel enthusiasts alike.

"Many scenes in the game remind me of the essence of Chinese traditional culture. Now that Shanxi Province is launching related cultural tourism activities, it's a fantastic opportunity to experience the world depicted in the game," Jiang Hanya, a player who pre-ordered the game, told the Global Times.

"This combination will attract more players and tourists, providing everyone with a profound cultural experience," she added.