On July 17, American scholar Joshua Dominick and Croatian Sinologist Ivana Buljan, along with their team, visited Qingdao Publishing Group for an in-depth research. During the carefully arranged visit, Chinese writers and global translators experienced the Group’s first-floor Picture Book Gallery and “Life's Amazing Journey” interactive space, as well as the Art Gallery. They then proceeded to the second-floor Maritime Frontiers Pavilion, Picture Book Series Exhibition Area, and Honor Room, and then watched the Group's promotional video and culturally rich documentaries such as “Making Buddha Statues” and “Handwritten Stone Record” in the audiovisual room.
Joshua Dominick, an American scholar and foreign expert from the Globalization Think Tank, was deeply impressed by the Group’s use of cutting-edge technology to “revitalize” traditional culture, particularly mentioning the “Hou Yi Shoots the Suns” interactive projection project: “Transforming a classic story into an interactive game that children love, paired with vivid cultural voiceovers, is a fantastic approach!”
Ivana Buljan, a renowned Croatian Sinologist, translator, and Associate Professor at the University of Zagreb, highly praised the “Museum-Like” design and digital integration of the entire space: “From the foundational children's books to the upper-level innovative concept exhibitions, the structure is exquisite. This place perfectly combines physical books with modern technology. Readers can not only read but also watch author interviews and even wear devices to experience VR flight exploration. The interactivity is remarkable, and it is truly captivating.”
The praise from the two experts highlights Qingdao Publishing Group's role as a benchmark in integrating cultural heritage and technological innovation. Through cutting-edge technologies such as projection interactivity, VR immersive experiences, and digital audio-visual archives, the Group transforms ancient texts, mythological legends, and even local cultures (such as Qingdao-themed illustrated books and the Yungang Grottoes publishing project) into tangible, playable, and interactive vibrant experiences. This not only greatly enhances the reading interest of young people but also successfully creates a cultural space for dialogue between tradition and modernity. This innovative practice of empowering publishing with technology to bring ancient texts to life provides a model for the global publishing industry and strongly promotes the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s excellent traditional culture.
© OfficialAffairs
