The Grand Canal serves as the continuous lifeline of the Chinese nation and is a significant symbol of Chinese civilization. Yangzhou, being both the starting point city of the Grand Canal and the leading city for its UNESCO World Heritage application, holds immense cultural significance and contemporary value. The establishment of the China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou carries important cultural implications and epochal significance. In June 2021, the grand opening of the China Grand Canal Museum addressed the issue of "zero collections" by adopting the concept of "technology + museum" . With a focus on digital experiential exhibitions, the museum aims to create immersive exhibition spaces.

The case utilizes modern technology to activate and fully use the resources along the Grand Canal, showcasing its historical and cultural significance comprehensively across the entire basin and throughout all time; and creating immersive experiential spaces. As the first comprehensive canal-themed museum in China integrating cultural relic preservation, scientific research and display, and social education, the China Grand Canal Museum utilizes immersive digital experiential exhibitions to interpret the stories of the Grand Canal effectively. It aims to promote China’s image to the world, showcase Chinese civilization, and demonstrate cultural confidence.

As the first museum within a national cultural park in China, the China Grand Canal Museum aims to provide high-quality public cultural services through immersive digital experiential exhibitions. Its exhibition hall design features distinct immersive digital experience areas such as the "5G Grand Canal Immersive Experience Zone," the "Sand Flying Boat Experience Area," the "River Romance" 720°panoramic space, and the "Canal Mystery" immersive interactive space for teenagers. These areas showcase the culture of the Grand Canal.

5G+VR Immersive Experience": The China Grand Canal Museum highlights the "5G Grand Canal Immersive Experience Hall," which utilizes naked-eye 3D technology along with 5G+VR 720° panoramic views and ultra- high-definition visuals with billions of pixels. Through advanced interactive technologies, visitors can "travel through" 17 canal cities in a single view, digitally and visually presenting the historical features and cultural significance of the thousand-year-old Grand Canal.

"Physical Experience + Virtual Technology": In the "Boats on the Canal" exhibition hall, the China Grand Canal Museum combines physical and virtual experiences. In the first section, featuring 78 boat models as the main display, a blend of physical and multimedia interactive experiences is employed, it is incorporating touch screens and AR interaction to emphasize both knowledge and experience, thus constructing a comprehensive knowledge system of boats. The second section consists of the Sand Flying Boat Multimedia Interactive Experience Area, which combines physical experience with digital immersive virtual experiences. It integrates advanced display methods such as real-time rendering of panoramic projection, Augmented Reality (AR), and 360°IMAX projection to create an immersive atmosphere.

Immersive Experience: To allow visitors to experience the changes in day and night, as well as weather conditions, within the exhibition hall, the China Grand Canal Museum installed a canopy in the "Canal Street Market" exhibition hall. Utilizing a large number of LED technologies, the canopy undergoes a 20-minute cycle, simulating the changes in light and shadow over 24 hours.
"Technology + Art + Culture": The "River Romance" exhibition hall interprets the culture of the Grand Canal of China through abstract and symbolic multimedia language. Employing naked-eye technology, it highlights dynamic effects in terms of sound, light, electricity, form, and color. Additionally, the 720°interactive space is a rare feature, enhancing visitor engagement and immersion.

"Immersive Ancient Style Experience": The "Canal Mystery" is the first escape room-style experiential project in China. The China Grand Canal Museum recreates the experiential space with true proportions and story backgrounds. It utilizes contemporary media technologies such as AR virtual reality technology and real-time rendering of panoramic projection to present ancient historical culture, creating a sense of spatial extension. Additionally, it integrates an H5 mobile application to guide visitors through the experience.

Located in the Sanwan Scenic Area of Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, the museum is a landmark project in constructing the Grand Canal National Cultural Park.

The exhibition extensively utilizes the latest modern technology to showcase the rich and diverse historical culture of the Grand Canal through digital immersive interactive experiences. It offers the public a new immersive experience and high-quality cultural services. Over the nearly 3 years since its opening, it has welcomed nearly 8 million visitors and has been reported by central and provincial-level media multiple times. It has increased the tourism contribution to the local city and has achieved significant social and economic benefits.

Expert Review

In 2014, the China Grand Canal was successfully inscribed on the World Heritage List, recognized as the world’s longest and oldest man-made waterway. How can one transcend the limitations of time and space to present the charm of the Grand Canal, which spans north to south and ancient to modern times, in a single venue? The China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou provides the answer. Through digital immersive exhibits, it skillfully blends the historical weight with the modernity of digital light and shadow, allowing visitors to virtually walk through and experience the thousand- year-old landscape of the canal and the cultural charm and aesthetic expression it embodies.