The Nanjing Great Bao’en Temple is an important symbol of China’s Ming Dynasty heritage. It was once home to the famous Porcelain Tower, known worldwide for its beautiful architecture and cultural significance. The Porcelain Tower inspired European travelers in the 17th century and continues to influence modern cultural imagery—from game designs to iconic packaging.

In 2025, the temple ruins museum launched the Digital Heritage Global Innovator Contest, attracting creative talents globally to reimagine this historical legacy. The contest invited innovators to explore how immersive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) can transform cultural heritage presentation.

Immersive technologies are changing heritage experiences from static displays to dynamic, interactive storytelling. Through AR and VR, users engage with history in sensory-rich environments that foster deeper connections. This contest highlights how these tools enable fresh narratives around the Great Bao’en Temple and its broader cultural context.

Explore how the Nanjing Great Bao’en Temple’s Digital Heritage contest leverages AR and VR to reimagine cultural heritage. From the Echo Silk team’s Maritime Silk Road AR experience to VR recreations of Ming City Wall bricks, immersive tech is fostering cross-cultural collaboration and opening new possibilities for heritage storytelling.

The Digital Heritage Global Innovator Contest: A New Era for Cultural Heritage

The Digital Heritage Global Innovator Contest attracted remarkable international attention. With approximately 700 applications submitted from 19 countries, the competition reflects a vibrant global interest in digital heritage innovation. From this vast pool, 31 finalists were selected, representing a diverse range of nations including China, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, India, and Azerbaijan. This diversity highlights the contest’s role as a truly global platform for cultural creativity.

Support from UNESCO elevated the prestige and impact of the event. The organization’s involvement extended beyond endorsement to active participation in mentorship and judging. Experts from leading academic institutions such as University College London, Goldsmiths, University of London, University of Bristol, and the Royal College of Art guided participants with technical expertise and critical feedback. Their engagement ensured that submissions met high standards of scholarly rigor and innovative practice.

Such collaboration fosters rich cross-cultural exchange and innovation. Young creators connect across borders to explore new ways of expressing heritage through immersive media. The contest creates a unique ecosystem where diverse perspectives converge, encouraging experimentation and pushing the boundaries of how history can be experienced in the digital age. This international participation in heritage innovation contests sets a benchmark for future initiatives aiming to blend technology, culture, and education on a global scale.

How AR and VR are Changing Heritage Storytelling

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are changing the way we preserve our heritage. Instead of just looking at artifacts in a museum, these technologies make it possible to have interactive experiences where visitors can actively participate. With AR and VR, people can use their senses to fully experience historical stories, rather than simply observing objects behind glass.

The Impact of AR and VR on Heritage Storytelling

Here are some ways that AR and VR are making a difference in how we tell stories about our heritage:

1. Engaging the Senses: Visitors can now interact with mixed reality elements that bring stories to life through moving images, sounds that come from different directions, and physical sensations.
2. Interactive Exhibits: Museums are using AR technology to enhance their physical displays. By pointing their devices at specific exhibits, users can discover hidden details or learn more about the context of the artifacts.
3. Recreating Lost Treasures: Digital versions of artifacts that have been destroyed or are no longer accessible allow us to experience cultural treasures in an immersive way.

Examples of Immersive Technologies in Action

In the 2025 Digital Heritage Global Innovator Contest, several projects demonstrated these capabilities by using immersive technology to reimagine Nanjing’s historic sites. Here are a few examples:

• Users can virtually explore the Porcelain Tower by viewing digital models from different angles and even going inside.
• Historical texts, soundscapes, and 3D animations come together in unique storytelling formats that are triggered by user movements.
• Interactive narratives that span across cultures promote global conversations through shared experiences of digital heritage.

The Importance of Collaboration

Immersive technologies open up new opportunities for telling stories about our heritage by combining technology with culture. They encourage teamwork between different countries and fields while also creating educational tools that resonate with people emotionally when it comes to history.

Spotlight on Award-Winning Projects from the Contest

The Echo Silk team captured attention with their Garden of Living Bells project, an innovative AR experience that forges a vivid connection between the Great Bao’en Pagoda bell and the rich history of the Maritime Silk Road. By using augmented reality, their work transforms cultural heritage into an active, immersive journey.

Key features of the project include:

• Dynamic virtual scenes: Merchant ships and bustling ports appear in mid-air, inviting user interaction.
• Interactive soundscapes: Tapping on virtual ships triggers the resonant sound of the Great Bao’en Pagoda bell, creating a multi-sensory experience.
• Literary overlays: Nanjing’s classical literary works appear alongside visuals, weaving storytelling directly into the environment.

This combination of sound and visuals creates a participatory narrative that deepens visitors’ engagement with history. The project shows how immersive technologies in cultural tourism experiences can revitalize heritage sites by making stories tangible and memorable.

The success of the Echo Silk team demonstrates how the Nanjing Great Bao’en Temple’s Digital Heritage contest pushes boundaries—encouraging cross-cultural collaboration and pioneering new ways of telling heritage stories. Their approach offers a model for integrating technology to enrich historical narratives while promoting cultural tourism worldwide.

VR Reimagining of Ming City Wall Bricks: The “Canopy of Echoes” Project

The “Canopy of Echoes” project uses VR technology to turn the history and physicality of the Ming City Wall bricks into an immersive experience. This virtual reconstruction lets users explore the true essence of these ancient artifacts in a way that traditional exhibits can’t. By recreating the feel and intricate details of the bricks, the project encourages participants to connect with heritage objects in a way that’s often not possible in regular museums.

Key elements of the experience include:

1. Spatial immersion: Users navigate a digitally recreated environment where the Ming City Wall bricks serve as focal points, surrounded by contextual historical narratives and ambient soundscapes.
2. Tactile virtual environments: The VR setting simulates textures and surfaces, providing a sense of weight, scale, and craftsmanship that fosters emotional resonance with the artifacts.
3. Enhanced understanding: Interaction with virtual reconstructions encourages curiosity about construction techniques, historical significance, and preservation challenges associated with the bricks.

This approach moves heritage preservation from simply looking at things to actively getting involved. It helps users connect more deeply with cultural history by making things like texture, scale, and environment into experiences that engage their senses. The “Canopy of Echoes” shows how VR can bring new life to old materials through immersive storytelling that teaches while also creating empathy for cultural legacies.

Broader Impacts: Education, Urban Branding, and Commercial Potential through Immersive Heritage Tech

Transforming Education through Digital Heritage

Immersive technologies like AR and VR are transforming education through digital heritage by making historical narratives accessible and engaging for a wide range of audiences. These projects offer interactive learning experiences that go beyond textbooks or museum plaques. For instance, users can explore reconstructed sites, manipulate virtual artifacts, or participate in storytelling that appeals to diverse learning styles. This hands-on approach fosters deeper retention and appreciation of cultural heritage.

Urban Branding via Immersive Technologies

Nanjing’s strategic use of immersive tech also plays a pivotal role in urban branding via immersive technologies. By integrating digital heritage innovations into its city identity, Nanjing positions itself as a hub for global cultural dialogue. The city leverages its rich history, including the Great Bao’en Temple legacy, to attract tourists and creative talent alike. Immersive experiences enhance the city’s appeal by offering novel ways to engage with its past while promoting a forward-looking image.

Commercial Potential

Emerging markets fueled by virtual exhibitions and urban branding opportunities demonstrate the commercial potential of these technologies. Museums, tourism boards, and cultural institutions are tapping into new revenue streams by creating paid virtual tours, branded AR apps, or interactive city guides. This shift is expanding the cultural and creative industries’ value chain — from content creation to user experience design — making digital heritage a vibrant sector with economic impact beyond traditional preservation efforts.

Conclusion

The Digital Heritage Global Innovator Contest highlights how immersive tech fosters innovation in culture, with young creators leading the charge. Projects like the Echo Silk team’s AR Maritime Silk Road experience and VR recreations of Ming City Wall bricks demonstrate new possibilities for heritage storytelling that transcend borders. These initiatives underscore the power of AR and VR to transform static history into dynamic, sensory-rich narratives.

As these technologies evolve, their impact on cultural preservation and engagement will expand, making heritage accessible in ways never imagined before. The future of digital heritage is shaped by this vibrant fusion of creativity, technology, and global collaboration.

AR Innovations: Garden Living Bells and the Maritime Silk Road Experience

The Garden of Living Bells project by the Echo Silk team is a great example of how augmented reality (AR) brings cultural heritage to life. This immersive experience focuses on the Great Bao’en Pagoda bell and connects it to the fascinating history of the Maritime Silk Road through interactive storytelling.

Key features include:

• Dynamic virtual scenes: Users witness merchant ships and bustling ports materialize in the air around them, creating a sense of presence in historical trade hubs.
• Interactive soundscapes: Tapping on virtual ships triggers the resonant sound of the pagoda bell, blending auditory history with visual elements.
• Literary overlays: Classic works from Nanjing’s cultural heritage appear alongside these scenes, deepening contextual understanding.

This AR experience transforms passive observation into active participation. Visitors don’t just see history; they engage with it through multiple senses. The project exemplifies how technology can weave together art, history, and innovation to craft compelling cultural narratives.

By merging historical artifacts with cutting-edge AR, Garden of Living Bells enhances cultural tourism and education alike. It invites audiences worldwide to explore the Maritime Silk Road’s significance through a personalized, immersive lens—making history accessible, memorable, and emotionally resonant.