Tech Integration Drives Cultural Prosperity
China has been harnessing the power of technology to create synergy between traditional culture and modern digital innovation. It is a journey promoting the development of both cultural undertakings and the cultural industry, emphasizing the dual engine of cultural projects and the cultural industry to boost the nation's cultural soft power.
The creation of digital platforms, such as the National Public Cultural Cloud, an online platform established in 2017 to facilitate the digital dissemination of cultural information, represents a leap forward in making culture more accessible.
With over 161,000 cultural resources and nearly 400,000 minutes of video content released in 2023 alone, the platform has bridged the gap between cultural resources and the public, bringing art to the masses. The integration of digital services enables people from all walks of life to enjoy live events, engage in courses, and explore local cultural activities by a click.
In entertainment, Chinese animated films like Ne Zha 2 exemplify how cutting-edge technology is reshaping the production and distribution of cultural products. With a global box office surpassing 11.8 billion RMB, and now on the world's top 10 list of the highest grossing films of all time, Ne Zha 2 is a testament to the innovative potential of Chinese animation, with 138 animation companies and thousands of professionals contributing to its success.
The use of advanced special effects and state-of-the-art video technology helped turn the plot — a traditional Chinese mythological story — into a visually stunning and emotionally resonant cinematic experiences.
China's theaters and museums have also embraced digital innovation. For example, the "A Tapestry of A Legendary Land" dance-poem-drama performance takes its inspiration from the ancient Qianli Jiangshan painting, a 12-meter-long landscape of rivers and mountains painted in the 12th century, and then uses multimedia techniques to create an immersive experience for viewers.
Moreover, cultural tourism is flourishing, driven by technologies like 5G, augmented reality and interactive experiences. In Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, visitors can enjoy a nighttime cultural journey that blends traditional aesthetics with modern technology.
The integration of technology and culture is not only advancing China's cultural industry but also forging new pathways for cultural innovation, making Chinese culture more dynamic, accessible and influential on the global stage.