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An integration of art history and technology: Exploring ancient Chinese paintings on a 3D e-learning platform

31 Jul 2025

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Professor Sammy Li, Associate Professor of the Department of History and Programme Director of the Bachelor of Arts and Science (Hons) in Digital Futures and Humanities (right), Ms Sit Shui-yan, Project Assistant and faculty members across disciplines created an e-learning platform of 3D Chinese paintings.
Professor Sammy Li says students can navigate within the paintings as if they were piloting a drone, freely zooming in on details to discover the artist's perspective and creativity through this platform.
The painting by the Italian missionary Giuseppe Castiglione, Qianlong’s Military Campaign into the Western Regions: A Victory Banquet Given by the Emperor for the Commanders and Soldiers, is converted into a 3D model.

Have you ever imagined stepping into an ancient scroll, wandering through the stunning landscapes of the Northern Song dynasty? Or seeing the world through Emperor Xuanzong’s eyes, as he journeyed across the rugged mountains of Sichuan in the Tang dynasty? With artificial intelligence and digital technology, these experiences have now become possible, transforming the way we learn about traditional humanities.

Professor Sammy Li Kin-sum, Associate Professor of the Department of History and Programme Director of the Bachelor of Arts and Science (Hons) in Digital Futures and Humanities at HKBU, has launched an e-learning platform that fuses Chinese art history with innovative 3D technology. Led by Professor Li and faculty members across disciplines, this project received a HK$4.6 million grant from the Quality Education Fund and took over a year to develop. It combines augmented reality (AR) and gamified design to transform five classic ancient paintings into 3D models that can be freely rotated, zoomed, and explored.

The platform features five historic artworks spanning from the Tang to the Qing dynasties, including selected mural paintings from Cave 217 of the Mogao Grottoes, selected portions of A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains, Emperor Xuanzong’s Journey to Sichuan, Travellers Among Mountains and Streams, and Qianlong’s Military Campaign into the Western Regions: A Victory Banquet Given by the Emperor for the Commanders and Soldiers. The project is integrated with Hong Kong’s latest Chinese History curriculum for secondary schools.

“Traditional Chinese artists didn’t paint from a single viewpoint. They composed landscapes by moving through space. This concept aligns seamlessly with modern 3D modelling principles. Through this platform, students can navigate within the paintings as if they were piloting a drone, freely zooming in on details to discover the artist's perspective and creativity,” says Professor Li. He aims to transform ancient Chinese paintings into an engaging space where students can explore and appreciate art in their own way, thereby arousing their curiosity and passion for learning.

In Emperor’s Journey to Sichuan, for example, the painting depicts Emperor Xuanzong seemingly enjoying a leisurely outing, but it subtly conceals the historical context of his flight during the An Lushan Rebellion. Through interactive exploration, students can observe and reflect on the boundary between artistic creation and historical reality.

Launched in the second half of 2024, this innovative learning platform has already been adopted by over 30 primary and secondary schools. Professor Li hopes to expand its reach to more local schools and even overseas. He has partnered with educators in Bangladesh, using virtual classrooms to guide students in exploring ancient Chinese paintings, in order to facilitate cross-cultural connections.

Explore the project “E-learning Platform of Chinese Art History and 3D Paintings”: https://digital.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/history/3d-paintings/index.html.