Xi'an Debuts World's First AI Model for Cultural Tourism

In a groundbreaking move for cultural tourism, Xi'an, China has launched the world's first commercial multimodal large language model (LLM) for the sector, named BoGuan. Developed by Shaanxi Culture Industry Investment Group (SCG) in collaboration with technology giants like Huawei, China Telecom Shaanxi, and China West Airport Group (CWAG), BoGuan is revolutionizing how heritage is preserved and experienced. The model, built on intelligent computing infrastructure and a massive dataset of over 1.2 PB, including 31 million images and 4.4 million minutes of video, enables highly accurate multimodal content generation. This supports digital relic presentations, traditional craftsmanship digitization, and the creation of digital IP for intangible cultural heritage. For instance, dough sculpture artisan Zhang Beiyuan noted that tasks taking months can now be completed in under a week. Additionally, BoGuan has spawned popular digital characters like Tang Biaobiao, whose related products have generated over CNY2 million in sales.

BoGuan is also enhancing visitor experiences through AI-powered applications. The GO-SHAANXI app features an AI travel companion that serves over 4 million users, helping them plan itineraries and get real-time attraction recommendations. The Zhiying Camera mini program offers paid services that let users superimpose themselves onto AI-generated historical scenes, effectively allowing them to 'travel back to ancient times.' These innovations not only enrich the tourist experience but also unlock new revenue streams from cultural tourism data. Furthermore, SCG is leveraging BoGuan to streamline short drama production in Xi'an, a major hub for the industry, boosting efficiency and quality.

The infrastructure supporting these advances includes a 5G-A network deployed by China Telecom Shaanxi and Huawei at the Grand Tang Mall. Using three component carrier aggregation (3CC) technology, this network delivers peak uplink and downlink rates 10 times faster than common 5G, handling concurrent access for 23,000 users during the 2026 May Day holiday. The enhanced connectivity has driven engagement, with average user dwell time for HD live streams nearly doubling and transaction values increasing by 62%. As Edric Chu, General Manager of Huawei's Shaanxi Rep Office, stated, 'Artificial intelligence is not simply a stack of technologies. It has become a key enabler that can activate thousands of years of cultural heritage, reshape travel experiences, and inject new momentum into the industry.' This initiative underscores how cutting-edge technology is being harnessed to preserve and promote cultural heritage in the digital age.