The Great Wall is taking on a digital dimension at the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services, where visitors can explore the landmark through virtual reality, live performances and cultural products without leaving the exhibition hall.
Beijing Badaling Culture and Tourism Group is showcasing its latest efforts to bring Great Wall culture to new audiences at the fair, which runs from Sept 9 to 13 at Shougang Park in Beijing.
As part of the Yanqing district exhibition area, the group has brought together cultural and creative products, digital performances, immersive experiences and tourism offerings centered on the Badaling section of the Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
One of the main attractions is a virtual reality experience that allows visitors to explore the Great Wall through panoramic, immersive imagery.
The "Great Wall VR Immersive Theater" uses virtual reality headsets to allow three visitors to experience the content simultaneously. The group says the technology aims to make the history and landscape of the ancient defensive system more accessible through an interactive format.
The group is also conducting live broadcasts from the Great Wall during the fair. On Sept 10, professional guides will introduce the site's history and culture through an on-location broadcast. It is also seeking to turn Great Wall culture into products that visitors can take home.
Its cultural and creative collection includes three main series featuring miniature Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) soldiers, Great Wall bricks and Great Wall-themed ornaments. The products translate historical and architectural features of the landmark into contemporary items designed to combine aesthetics with practical use.
The exhibition also promotes tourism offerings. Visitors can enter prize draws by collecting stamps, sharing exhibition content on social media and making purchases of at least 100 yuan ($14.9). Prizes include 2,000 tickets to Beijing's Wild Duck Lake national wetland park, 1,500 tickets to the Ancient Cliff Dwellings scenic area and 500 tickets to the show Dreams of the Great Wall.
The Yanqing exhibition area will host themed activities on Sept 10, 12 and 13, with special gifts and tourism packages available to visitors on different theme days.
The participation reflects Beijing's continuing efforts to combine cultural heritage with new forms of tourism consumption.
The Badaling group says it will continue to explore technology and new forms of cultural presentation to make Great Wall culture more accessible while developing tourism products and services around the heritage site.
