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Shandong: When the Eight Immortals Become NPCs at Scenic Areas

Source：Haibao News 10-10-2026 10:00:00

During the National Day holiday in Yantai's Kongtong Scenic Area, costumed performers moved along Eight Immortals Street as non-player characters (NPCs), a term recast in China to describe character performers. Portraying the Eight Immortals such as Iron Crutch Li, they played rock-paper-scissors with tourists to win themed souvenir bookmarks. This seamless, interactive experience proved a huge hit with visitors. Today, live-action NPCs at scenic areas have become the secret formula for attracting crowds in immersive cultural tourism. Travelers are no longer content with just snapping photos at sightseeing landmarks; they increasingly crave two-way interaction and emotional resonance.

Scenic spots across Shandong are leaning into immersive NPC performances: at Linyi's Langya Ancient City, period-costumed NPCs challenge visitors to poetry duels; at Mingshui Ancient City, performers portraying poets Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji engage visitors in lively Q&As; and at Shuipo Liangshan (Mount Liang), visitors interact in real time with legendary characters from Water Margin. As viral successes across the country have shown, high-caliber NPCs are far from a mere gimmick—they must be grounded in deep-rooted local cultural IP.

Drawing on Shandong's rich cultural heritage—from ancient mythology and Song Dynasty poetry to Water Margin—scenic areas are combining narrative environments with interactive design to turn classic folklore into engaging park experiences beloved by young people. By turning tourists from passive onlookers into active participants in the story, NPCs are unlocking new experiential dimensions for the cultural tourism industry and forging fresh paths to bring traditional culture to life.