Cities serve as inspiration
Behind the scenes, local governments are increasingly active in shaping each episode. Co-producer Deng Juncheng says the team typically spends about a week scouting each potential location, with cultural tourism departments providing crucial insights.
"Local cultural tourism offices are very welcoming and often take us to special places we wouldn't discover otherwise," Deng says.
For instance, when the crew arrived in Nyingchi, Xizang autonomous region, the local tourism authority brought them to the city's cultural center, where they showcased the region's most treasured ethnic products and highlights, inspiring the team's game designs.
"These materials were passed to the writers and directors and quietly integrated into the mechanics of each game, making the show both fun and deeply connected to the region," Deng says.
Zhang sees this as a sign of a broader transformation. "The support from cultural tourism departments isn't just about recommending resources; moreover, they're deeply involved in content co-creation," she says.
