In the context of strong support for the development of cultural and night tourism economy in Suzhou, and with a focus on creating the "Gusu 8:30" brand, Zhonglian Cultural and Tourism Company, under the strong support of the Suzhou Municipal Government, Gusu District Government, District Economic and Technological Bureau, District Education and Sports Cultural Tourism Committee, and other units, adhering to the spirit of integrating traditional Gusu culture with cutting-edge technology, has created the first 5G holographic virtual light and shadow show in the country, titled "Mystical Soundscapes," within the historic Kaixing Grand Theater on Suzhou's Guanqian Street, which has a history of over a hundred years. This virtual light and shadow show, which lasted for more than six months, officially premiered on August 28, 2020, offering the audience a highly immersive experience of Suzhou's technological dreams.
"Susu" is the protagonist of "Mystical Soundscapes" and is the first virtual idol to endorse Suzhou. She is also the first virtual image ambassador in the country to promote Suzhou's culture through offline performances. Throughout the entire performance, "Susu" not only showcased her original blend of traditional and modern singing and dancing in ancient style but also demonstrated traditional Kunqu Opera and Pingtan skills. This portrayal presents "Susu" as a Suzhou girl who embodies both profound Gusu cultural heritage and contemporary vitality.
Against the backdrop of the rapid development of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and 5G technologies, "Mystical Soundscapes" represents a bold attempt at the practical application and seamless integration of emerging technologies in the cultural domain. The performance makes use of the existing architectural structure of the theater space and employs technological methods such as motion capture, CG rendering, holographic projection systems, and synchronized processing systems. These technologies allow the audience to immerse themselves from multiple viewing angles, providing different sensory experiences. In the 270-degree immersive environment, they can embark on a magical journey through Suzhou with the holographic girl, "Susu." Additionally, thanks to 5G technology, audience members can use their smartphones for real-time AR interactive experiences while enjoying the performance.
"Mystical Soundscapes" seamlessly integrates Suzhou's folk customs, traditional culture, and various well-established local brands into the performance from multiple angles. Audience members not only get to enjoy a night tour of the Fengqiao Lantern Festival on Guanqian Street, listen to Pingtan storytelling, and savor local snacks but also witness the first-ever 270-degree dynamic recreation of "Suzhou Prosperity," a famous painting. The fusion of technology, culture, and consumer experiences will contribute to Suzhou's emergence as a "social media-famous city" in the new era and stimulate the development of Suzhou's cultural and tourism consumption industry.
Building upon the success of "Mystical Soundscapes" in Suzhou, CCUI will expand its presence in the Yangtze River Delta region and other cities. Leveraging the unique regional characteristics and cultural heritage of each location, it will create distinctive cultural and tourism performance intellectual properties (IPs), offering audiences unique artistic experiences.
