Northern China’s Shanxi Province Sees Tourism Boom Thanks to “Black Myth: Wukong”

Shanxi Province in northern China, once an overlooked travel destination, is now experiencing a remarkable surge in tourism thanks to the release of the hit online game Black Myth: Wukong. Launched on August 20, the game has captivated audiences both in China and internationally, selling 8.4 million copies within its first three days. The game’s connection to Shanxi has brought the province into the spotlight, drawing visitors eager to explore the real-life locations featured in the game.

Out of the 36 major locations depicted in Black Myth: Wukong, 27 are based on sites in Shanxi, a region about 500 kilometers from Beijing. The game’s success has led to a boom in the local tourism sector, with many fans traveling to Shanxi to see these places firsthand. One such location is the Xiaoxitian Tour Zone in Xi County, home to a Buddhist temple dating back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). According to reports, ticket sales for the temple have tripled since the game’s release, prompting management to increase ticket availability and incorporate content from the game into the temple’s website.

The impact of Black Myth: Wukong on Shanxi’s tourism is evident in the data. On the day of the game’s launch, searches for tourist attractions in Shanxi on Meituan.com surged by 156% compared to the same day the previous year. The Yungang Grottoes, Fogong Temple Wooden Pagoda in Ying County, and Stork Tower emerged as the top three most-searched destinations. Additionally, statistics from Tuniu, a travel platform, revealed a 50% increase in visitors to Shanxi in August compared to July, with hotel bookings more than doubling.

Many of these new visitors are eager to see how the real-life locations compare to their in-game counterparts. One tourist from Inner Mongolia, who visited the Wooden Pagoda, shared his excitement about experiencing the site in person after seeing it in the game. Sun Jiajun, the director of tourism development for Ying County, noted that most visitors in the past week had discovered the Wooden Pagoda through Black Myth: Wukong.

Black Myth: Wukong is based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, which tells the story of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang and his pilgrimage to India, protected by his disciple Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. Shanxi’s rich history, ancient grottoes, and classical architecture are prominently featured in the game, drawing newfound attention to the province. Previously, Shanxi struggled to become a top tourist destination due to limited transportation options and insufficient promotion. However, the game’s popularity, coupled with promotional videos on platforms like Bilibili.com, has significantly boosted the province’s profile.

Shanxi isn’t the only region benefiting from the game’s success. Lianyungang, a city in eastern Jiangsu province, which claims to be the hometown of the Monkey King, has announced that players who complete all in-game missions can visit the city’s famous Huaguo Mountain for free, further leveraging the game’s popularity to boost local tourism.

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