The winners of the 2024 Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe-Calligraphy and Painting Challenge for summer camp pose for a photo in Xi'an. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Recently, the award-winning participants of the 2024 Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe-Calligraphy and Painting Challenge came to Xi'an to embark on a unique cultural journey through the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

During their visit to the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City in Xi'an, the participants experienced the immersive theater production Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 2: To the West with a modern twist.

Using VR technology, they traveled back in time to the Tang Dynasty, experiencing a true "journey through time and space". Through captivating stories and interactive experiences, they embarked on an exciting and thrilling adventure, gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese history and culture.

The winners of the 2024 Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe-Calligraphy and Painting Challenge for summer camp experience VR project Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 2: To the West in Xi'an. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The participants were highly impressed with the experience. One of them remarked, "I think this is an excellent way of popularizing traditional culture. The sceneries presented were implemented with really high quality, even the details of architecture and clothing."

Another participant added, "It's not the first time that I've had this kind of experience, but this is the first time in China that I've seen such a VR experience. It is very, very beautiful. It is not only a modern VR experience, it's a historical journey where you can truly feel and learn about Chinese history."

The VR project Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 2: To the West is developed by iQIYI based on its popular drama IP of the same name. This "real scene + full-sensory VR" project enhances offline cultural tourism with an immersive entertainment experience that blends the virtual and the real.

The winners of the 2024 Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe-Calligraphy and Painting Challenge for summer camp experience the immersive theater production Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 2: To the West in Xi'an. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Through a combination of virtual reality equipment, film-grade sets and full-sensory devices, visitors are transformed into the protagonists of the series, traveling to the bustling Tang Dynasty and teaming up with the Tang Dynasty detective squad to solve mysterious and strange cases. The first store, located at the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, opened this year during the Spring Festival, with more stores opening successively.