Digital technology brings China's revolutionary warfare back to life

Red tour destinations－sites related to the revolutionary history of China over the past century－in Shanxi are becoming increasingly popular among younger tourists.

In addition to the enhanced patriotic education, the use of the latest digital technologies has contributed to improving the tourist experience and is another reason for the popularity among students and young people.

Mo Sisi, a student who was visiting the Pingxingguan Victory Memorial Hall in Lingqiu county in the east of Shanxi province, was amazed by the virtual reality show of a battle that took place more than eight decades ago.

The battle at Pingxingguan, a Great Wall pass, was the first major victory of the Eighth Route Army led by the Communist Party of China during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

On Sept 25, 1937, the No 115 Division of the Eighth Route Army defeated the Japanese army at Pingxingguan Pass, which remains a symbol of Chinese patriotism today.

"By watching the VR show, I have some realistic ideas about the war," Mo said. "It was a hard-won victory based on the formidable courage of our soldiers, who were so poorly equipped at that time. It is a sharp contrast to my former dramatic ideas of war."

Enhancing the visitor experience through lighting, videos and VR is an option that many Red tour destinations in Shanxi are now taking.

The Taihang Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang county in the city of Changzhi is a large and comprehensive exhibition center. It offers visitors an immersive experience with the help of lighting, acoustic and digital technologies.

Wuxiang county, located at the heart of the Taihang Mountains, used to be the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army and stood at the forefront of the conflicts between the Chinese army and the Japanese invaders.

The Eighth Army Cultural Park near the memorial hall provides tourists with battlefield experience through war games.

The venue uses various defense works, including tunnels, blockhouses and entrenchments as the games' settings, giving participants an experience of how war was fought some eight decades ago.

Tourism insiders said the use of digital technologies represents a new direction for Red tours and has won recognition among younger tourists.

The province's tourism authorities have planned 10 Red tourism routes, with themes related to the Red Army, the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation (1946-49), and others.

Wang Pei contributed to this story.