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A visitor poses for photos at the booth of “Black Myth: Wukong” during the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese video games are increasingly connecting ancient culture with younger generations. Through immersive digital design and real-world collaborations, homegrown titles are inspiring young players to rediscover traditional arts, driving tourism and reinforcing cultural confidence.

One prime example, “Ashes of Kingdom,” immediately captured players’ imaginations after its domestic launch last September, attracting fans with its richly detailed late Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – 220 A.D.) and the Three Kingdoms period (220-280) world.

In Yangzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, young gamers flocked to the city’s historic landmarks, including Slender West Lake, Ge Garden, and He Garden, as they were transformed into immersive in-game quest hubs.

From mid-May to late June, the collaboration project drew thousands of visitors eager to trace the lacquerware motifs featured in the game.

“The game has drawn many Gen Z travelers to Yangzhou to discover its beauty through its landscapes, cuisine and traditions,” said Dai Bin, deputy director of the city’s culture and tourism bureau.

During the three-day Dragon Boat Festival, the Yangzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Treasure Museum welcomed approximately 20,000 visitors daily, a significant portion of whom were gaming enthusiasts. Under the guidance of master artisans, visitors sketched, inlaid and polished Luodian — also known as mother-of-pearl inlay — on wooden panels, transforming digital motifs into tangible artworks.

This “game-plus-heritage” model turns cultural landmarks into living classrooms, Dai added.

Cultural tourism-related online searches of the city surged by 300 percent during the month-long project as Gen Z travelers flooded in to experience Han culture firsthand, according to data.

Behind these successful activities stand young development teams who weave authentic history into modern gameplay. “We chose a few representative cultural fragments — lacquerware, guqin music and traditional attire — to spark curiosity,” said Xiao Meng, the producer of “Ashes of Kingdom.”

“It’s a two-way journey: We invite players in and they, in turn, bring new perspectives to our shared heritage,” she said.

National policies and education initiatives are fueling this cultural craze further. In April, the Ministry of Commerce rolled out a game export plan that calls for the development of overseas gaming operations, the expansion of application scenarios, and the establishment of an industrial chain spanning IP development, game production, publishing and international operations.

Industry data underscores this momentum. According to the 2024 China game export report, Chinese-developed games achieved overseas sales of 18.56 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, representing a 13.39 percent increase from the previous year.

In April this year, the Ministry of Education approved game art design as an undergraduate major at three institutions, including the Communication University of China and the Beijing Film Academy, with courses covering player psychology and the digital preservation of traditional aesthetics.

“A systematic design theory is needed in the gaming industry in China, and through education, we aim to instill more professional design principles and drive the sector’s healthy development,” said Liang Qiwei, a guest professor at the Communication University of China’s School of Animation and Digital Arts and the founder of Beijing’s S-GAME.

Thanks to the gaming boom, the revival of China’s traditional culture has moved beyond a mere trend, coming alive through a rich array of vivid cultural symbols and platforms.

Take “Black Myth: Wukong” as an example. The game was inspired by classic Chinese tale “Journey to the West,” which features the Monkey King, and became an instant global sensation, selling over 10 million copies across all platforms within three days of its launch.

The game’s global acclaim has marked significant progress in China’s endeavors to promote its culture overseas, demonstrating its increasing ability to break through barriers and overcome obstacles on the global stage, said Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University.

Video games have become one of the most important media forms for cultural exchange, but developers must first ensure gameplay remains entertaining and cultural elements enrich rather than overshadow the overall experience.

The key to tapping into China’s cultural resources is to present them through innovative contemporary expression, Liang said. 

For years, I have been using multiple productivity apps for various work tasks, including Google Calendar for appointments, Evernote for quick notes, Trello and Asana for task management, Excel sheets for contacts, and 1Password for password management, among others. Although all or most of these apps are individually good at what they are meant for, using them all together was a total mess. It felt disjointed and inefficient, with the constant anxiety of overlooking something important.

I realized I needed to consolidate everything, but no single app could effectively handle all of it. Then I discovered EssentialPIM, and suddenly, my digital mess transformed into organized harmony.

What is EssentialPIM?

All your productivity tools in one place.

EssentialPIM is basically an integrated personal information manager (PIM) that bundles tasks, notes, contacts, calendars, emails, and passwords into a single, intuitive application. This software has been around for years, steadily evolving without becoming overly complex or bloated. It’s lightweight, runs smoothly offline, and prioritizes data privacy and control.

EssentialPIM is primarily available for Windows, but the Android and iOS apps are also available for seamless syncing across your devices.

Getting started with EssentialPIM was smoother than I expected

Setting up the app is straightforward

Installing and getting started with the EssentialPIM is pretty straightforward. I downloaded the free version of the installer, ran it, and followed the on-screen instructions to install it successfully. The interface was “old-fashioned” but user-friendly and minimalistic. Within a few moments, I set up my email and calendar and synced my iPhone easily. I must admit that the email syncing took some time, though, because of the large number of emails in my inbox.

Unlike cloud-dependent apps, EssentialPIM allowed my data to stay local unless I specifically opted into cloud syncing via EPIM Cloud, Dropbox, or Google. I think this flexibility will give users immediate confidence and comfort in the setup. I then explored other features of the application, such as the password manager and note-taking capabilities.

Here’s how EssentialPIM keeps my life organized every day

Tasks, notes, calendar, and email in one app

You no longer need to use different productivity apps, as EssentialPIM takes care of most tasks. Having my meetings, tasks, notes, and emails accessible in a single window significantly reduced stress and boosted my productivity.

Flexible task management

The calendar in EssentialPIM is pretty useful. The ability to add due dates, set priorities, track progress, and create subtasks revolutionized my approach to both daily chores and long-term projects. Tasks no longer slip through the cracks.

Rich notes that stay organized

EssentialPIM’s notes feature is robust and versatile, offering rich text formatting, color coding, attachments, and the option to link notes directly to calendar events or tasks. It comfortably replaced my previous standalone note-taking app. There is also an option to add sticky notes that will keep reminding you of your pending tasks.

Offline-first with cloud sync if you want it

This is one of the things I like best about EssentialPIM. I appreciate keeping sensitive data offline, but having the option to securely sync across devices using EPIM Cloud or third-party cloud services ensures convenience without sacrificing privacy.

Built-in password manager

Apart from organizing, EssentialPIM also lets you secure your digital life with an impressive built-in password manager. Managing passwords within EssentialPIM, protected by strong AES encryption, allowed me to eliminate the need for additional password management software, reducing complexity and cost. Apart from storing passwords, you can also create strong passwords for your digital accounts.

Strong security

With data encryption and easy-to-manage backups, EssentialPIM provides me with peace of mind. I always have complete control over my data’s safety and storage location.

Advanced email tools

Managing multiple email accounts seamlessly, setting automation rules, using email templates, and receiving timely notifications make EssentialPIM a powerful, yet simpler alternative to bulky email clients like Outlook.

Lightweight on system resources

Even on my low-end Windows system, EssentialPIM runs smoothly without slowing down my machine, something I really liked when compared to resource-intensive competitors.

Portable version available

The ability to run EssentialPIM from a USB stick makes it invaluable when you are on the run or working from multiple computers. This ensures your digital life remains consistent wherever you go.

What’s not perfect (but not a deal breaker)

A few minor quirks

Of course, nothing is perfect, and EssentialPIM has a few quirks:

• The user interface, while functional, feels somewhat dated compared to sleek, modern web apps.
• Syncing email takes a lot of time and requires multiple permissions. It failed for me twice before finally getting synced.
• Setting up cloud synchronization was a headache for me initially, but once configured, it worked reliably.
• The free version limits certain features, like the number of email accounts, adding sticky notes, syncing Google Calendar, and a few more. However, it’s still robust enough for personal use.

Who I think it’s best for

Ideal for simplicity seekers

According to me, EssentialPIM will be best for the following types of users:

• Privacy-focused individuals who prefer offline-first applications.
• Windows users who value portability and lightweight performance.
• Freelancers and small business owners who need a simple, centralized organization tool.
• Anyone frustrated by recurring subscriptions or complicated cloud-based productivity suites.

Keep your digital life organized with EssentialPIM

The perfect balance of simplicity and power

EssentialPIM is literally a blessing for me. I never anticipated that an “old-school” personal information manager would outperform the latest cloud-based productivity tools, but it delivered precisely what I needed — simplicity, robust functionality, and reliable performance. It decluttered my digital mess, giving me back control over everything under a single app interface. For these reasons, EssentialPIM has secured its place in my daily workflow, and I’m sticking with it.

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