Online games as a pathway to elevate world cultural heritage conservation in China

Preserving the Great Wall, a renowned Chinese cultural heritage site, poses several challenges due to insufficient public awareness, inadequate policies, and a shortage of professional management staff. Urgent intervention through the integration of new technology is necessary to address these pressing issues. In recent years, the use of digital platforms and Extended Reality (XR) technology has emerged as a transformative force in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage content. XR technology can make cultural heritage digitally accessible, providing users with an immersive experience and promoting public engagement. And thanks to the potential to engage communities, educate young people and present cultural heritage in digital formats, online games have become an important catalyst in the field of heritage conservation. Games offer a platform where players can learn through action, and education is cleverly integrated into the playful narrative rather than being explicitly stated beforehand. The integration of gaming, XR technology and digital tourism actively involves communities, surpasses physical constraints, and bridges the temporal gap between the past, present, and future. In the year 2022, the China National Cultural Heritage Administration forged a collaborative partnership with Tencent Games, culminating in the creation of a WeChat application christened Great Wall E-tour. This compact application package has been ingeniously designed to allow users to virtually travel the Great Wall and participate in its restoration, all through the medium of their mobile devices. Notably, the application also facilitates an immersive exploration of the “Digital Great Wall” while providing a profound insight into its historical lineage. Beyond mere exploration, it also encourages active engagement in the restoration process of this iconic monument. This study serves to underscore the pivotal role of Great Wall E-tour as a multifaceted World Heritage preservation tool in the specific context of China. The discourse here explores the significant contribution of online games, with a particular focus on the use of XR technology in the broader field of heritage preservation and promotion. It demonstrates the integration of XR technology in the context of museums, historic sites and educational initiatives. The article also highlights the critical importance of maintaining a seamless and immersive gaming experience while imparting knowledge about the past, underscoring the need for a harmonious balance between educational content and user engagement.