The Southern Song Deshou Palace Site Museum in Hangzhou has opened Shan Hai Song (山海宋), a Southern Song-themed XR immersive exhibition produced by Zhejiang Xingguang Film & TV Group and Hangzhou Xingying Media Technology. Set in the main hall of Cifu Palace at the site, the experience lets visitors wear XR devices and follow a storyline through a recreated Southern Song capital, Lin'an, from palace halls and the imperial street to West Lake scenery and the Qiantang tide.
How the experience works
The film-like piece runs 27 minutes and combines a plot with hands-on interaction. Visitors take the first-person role of a Song dynasty investigating official, moving through the scenes while solving a case. Interactive moments include reaching out to cast a dragon into West Lake, touching a shower of osmanthus blossoms, carrying a lantern through an armoury at night and raising an arm to fire a crossbow at intruders. Groups cooperate on tasks as they go.
The chief director, Qu Yongfan, presents the work as tailor-made for the site's setting and cultural character rather than a template reused across venues.
In operation
Local reporting from the 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day holiday describes visitors wearing the devices and playing through the detective story, with one university student noting landmarks such as Leifeng Pagoda, Broken Bridge and Solitary Hill and the teamwork the tasks required. The Shangcheng District Culture, Commerce and Tourism Group framed the programme as a way to let residents and visitors walk into the Southern Song rather than only see it. The exhibition was reported as running until 15 October, with tickets sold through several ticketing platforms.
