Legendary character turns virtual to greet tourists

A virtual human named Hua Mulan, which Zhonghua Book Company launched on Jan 18 in Datong city, Shanxi province, had a square face and thick eyebrows, and was not too thin or too pale, appearing to be a mixture of Shanxi and Mongol people.

A different face from that in Disney's 1998 animation Mulan or any local opera in which the legendary figure is famous, this version of Mulan is shown in three sets of attire — armor, the traditional dress of her dynasty and modern chic in "new Chinese" style. The figure combines digital technology to boost Datong's co-development of culture, tech and tourism.

"Every color on her dress comes from archaeological findings of the popular dye in Hua's time; the patterns are from unearthed cloths and the stone steles from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) that survive today," says Wang Jian, a project leader from the book company.

The company's first attempt at creating a virtual human focused on poet Su Shi of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in 2022.

The company is known for its collection of ancient books and classics and is utilizing its resources for digital recreations.

Hua Mulan's story of military service in honor of her elderly father and returning home to rejoin her family is a beloved tale passed down for generations.

Datong will greet its visitors with the virtual Mulan, which will have cultural products related to the figure for sale.