Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, recently rolled out a plan to cultivate and build its extended reality (XR) industrial chain.

XR technology combines real and virtual environments with human-computer interaction through computer technology and wearable devices. It encompasses immersive technologies like AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and MR (mixed reality).

Xi'an locals watch movies using the new technology. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

Xi'an boasts a rich array of cultural and tourism offerings, the most notable of which are the Terracotta Warriors, offering ample space for XR development. Utilizing its numerous research institutions and strong scientific capabilities, the future of XR industry growth in Xi'an looks promising.

Spearheaded by Xiying Group, a Xi'an XR Film Content Production Base spanning at least 10,000 square meters will be established, which is expected to house five to 10 startups and marketing teams and support content creation in film, cultural tourism experiences, exhibitions, and more.

Moreover, Xi'an will construct a Belt and Road bidirectional open XR+AI equipment manufacturing base covering approximately 700,000 square meters. This initiative will facilitate the development and manufacturing of lightweight AR smart glasses, high-performance VR/MR headsets, and enhance XR product production capabilities, fostering the convergence of technologies like AR and AI in areas such as cultural tourism, tour guides, and museums.

Xi'an will also further expand XR technology to multiple application scenarios, accelerating innovation and development in education, industry, commerce, and supporting industrial enterprises in applying XR technology in quality inspection, product design, simulation, and more.