Visitors take photos at the "Planetary Story·Blue Tears" art park in Pingtan. (File photo)

As China's second international tourism island after Hainan, Pingtan, located off the coast of Fujian province and the closest point on the Chinese mainland to the island of Taiwan, has become a growing center for cultural and tourism development. In the 2025 Digital China Innovation Contest (DCIC), "Planetary Story·Blue Tears" art park emerged as a standout winner, blending immersive light and shadow experiences with ecological tourism. This innovative project outshone hundreds of competing projects nationwide, earning the prestigious Excellence Award.

Located in Pingtan's Tannan Bay, the art park spans 33.35 hectares. It integrates cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and 3D mapping while capitalizing on the region's natural features, including Casuarina forests and coastal granite formations. The park offers 25 immersive story walkthroughs and 16 interactive experiences, all designed to deliver a dynamic and engaging adventure for visitors.

Li Qian, general manager of Planetary Story (Fujian) Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., expressed his excitement over the recognition and its potential to drive the park's future development. "This award will significantly contribute to the park's growth and future planning," said Li. "Our company is focusing on segmenting the market and developing three key modules this year. First, we have the day-tour module, which will create an adventure park using the pristine natural landscapes. Visitors will not only be able to take photos but also engage in a variety of activities. The second module is the Blue Tears Art Park, which will feature art installations and stunning visual effects based on the bioluminescent phenomenon. This area will be open year-round for free. Lastly, our night-tour module will refine the overall concept and enhance the immersive narrative experience."

The 2025 Digital China Innovation Contest, under the theme "Digital Intelligence and Cultural Tourism Innovate the Future," covered 11 tracks with a total prize pool of 6 million yuan. The competition aimed to promote deeper integration between digital technology and the real economy. The Digital Cultural Tourism Track featured 22 projects in the finals, with 10 projects receiving Excellence Awards.