Black Myth: Wukong - The Ultimate Guide to All 36 Filming Locations, Each a National Treasure!
"Black Myth: Wukong" is set against the backdrop of Chinese mythology, deeply exploring the classic elements of "Journey to the West" and integrating modern game design concepts to create a familiar yet innovative world of the Westward Journey.
It can be said that it is not only a game but also a continuation and innovation of traditional Chinese culture.
However, success does not come overnight. When the first gameplay animation of "Black Myth" was released in 2020, many netizens pointed out that there were too many Japanese-style buildings. Later, the development team explained that they used Unreal Engine 4's asset library, which only included Japanese-style Asian architecture...
As a result, the Game Science development team took their equipment and traveled to historical sites across the country to conduct on-site scans, using them as building models in the game...
Image from the lead artist @Yang Qi's Weibo.
It is through such on-site scans that ancient Chinese architecture, stone carvings, and sculptures are highly restored in the game, making every brick and tile rich in cultural heritage, as if transporting players through time.
According to the currently disclosed incomplete list of filming locations, "Black Myth: Wukong" has collected 36 ancient structures from various provinces and cities across China! As a major province for ancient architecture, Shanxi unsurprisingly has the most, with 27 alone!
Today, let us follow "Black Myth: Wukong" on an in-depth tour of ancient architecture and take a look at these stunning thousand-year-old treasure locations! The introductions in this article are not exhaustive, and the visual materials are from netizens. If there are any errors, please feel free to criticize and correct them in the comments section~
Huayan Temple was originally the imperial temple of the Liao Dynasty, named after the Buddhist scripture "Avatamsaka Sutra." Due to the Khitan people's belief in ghosts and worship of the sun, as well as their religious and residential customs of prioritizing the east, the temple is oriented west to east.
The Mahavira Hall in the temple was first built during the Liao Dynasty and rebuilt during the Jin Dynasty. The hall was constructed using the "column reduction method," reducing 12 inner columns to expand the front worship space, with only two golden pillars supporting the hall. The glazed chiwen on the main ridge are 4.5 meters high, with the northern one being an original from the Jin Dynasty and the southern one restored during the Ming Dynasty. They are the largest glazed chiwen in ancient Chinese architecture.
Inside the hall, there are Ming Dynasty statues and Qing Dynasty giant murals (the existing murals have been restored by the Central Academy of Fine Arts). Embedded in the outer wall are four stone tablets inscribed with the "Book of Changes" by the Southern Song Dynasty Confucian scholar Zhu Xi.
The Bojia Scripture Hall is a relic from the Liao Dynasty, with its caisson ceiling and colored sculptures dating back to the Liao Dynasty. Among the 29 Liao Dynasty colored sculptures, there is a "clasped hands, smiling" attendant Bodhisattva, standing barefoot on a lotus platform, so lifelike that it was praised by the renowned scholar Zheng Zhenduo as the "Eastern Venus."
As a scripture hall, the Bojia Scripture Hall has 38 cabinet-style scripture cases along the walls, divided into two levels. The column-head brackets are of the "double descending cantilever, seven-step" type, the most complex among Liao Dynasty brackets. At the rear window of the hall, there is a "celestial pavilion" connected by an arched bridge, the only existing wooden architectural model from the Liao Dynasty, referred to by Liang Sicheng as a "unique treasure in the world."
Shanhua Temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan era and rebuilt during the Jin Dynasty. The existing structures include the Mahavira Hall from the Liao Dynasty, the Heavenly King Hall, Three Saints Hall, and Puxian Pavilion from the Jin Dynasty, with the rest being relics from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The Mahavira Hall is the largest hall in Shanhua Temple, with seven bays in width and five bays in depth. The hall stands on a 3.3-meter-high platform and was constructed using the column reduction method, reducing eight inner columns.
The Liao Dynasty statues inside the hall embody the rounded, full, and dignified characteristics of the Tang and Song Dynasties while retaining the boldness of the nomadic people.
The Heavenly King Hall serves as the mountain gate of Shanhua Temple, with five bays in width, making it the largest existing Jin Dynasty mountain gate in China, even larger than the main halls of some smaller temples.
Inside the mountain gate, there are four Ming Dynasty statues of heavenly kings, so vividly expressive that they are affectionately called the "eye-catching" kings!
The Hanging Temple was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, with the existing structures being relics from repairs during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The entire building is supported by horizontal beams inserted into the cliff, seemingly suspended in mid-air. The Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake praised the Hanging Temple as a "wonder of the world."
The layout of the Hanging Temple is "one courtyard, two towers," with 40 large and small halls and pavilions, integrating elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Among them, the highest level of the North Tower houses the Three Teachings Hall, which enshrines statues of Sakyamuni, Laozi, and Confucius simultaneously.
The Yungang Grottoes, one of China's four major grotto complexes, comprise 45 main caves and 209 auxiliary caves, with carved areas covering over 18,000 square meters. The statues range from 17 meters tall to as small as 2 centimeters, featuring approximately 1,100 niches and about 59,000 sculptures of various sizes.
The Yungang Grottoes are divided into eastern, central, and western sections. Caves 5 to 20 represent the highlight, with Caves 5 and 6 particularly renowned for their exquisite carvings and grand scale.
The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple, commonly known as the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, is the tallest and oldest existing wooden pagoda in the world. It has nine stories and stands 67.31 meters high.
The wooden pagoda is situated between the mountain gate and the main hall of Fogong Temple, following a "pagoda in front, hall behind" layout. Expertly designed with a mortise and tenon structure, it has stood for nearly a millennium without collapsing. It is celebrated as one of the "Three Wonders of the World" alongside the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower.
Research indicates the pagoda employs 54 distinct types of bracket sets (dougong), earning it the title "Museum of Dougong." It enshrines two sarira (relics) of Sakyamuni Buddha's teeth and houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures and artifacts from the Liao Dynasty. The plaques inscribed with "Junji Shengong" (Exquisite Divine Craftsmanship) and "Tianxia Qiguan" (Marvelous Spectacle of the World) were bestowed by Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di and Emperor Wuzong Zhu Houzhao of the Ming Dynasty, respectively.
Commonly known as the Great Buddha Temple, it was first built during the Tang Dynasty and underwent multiple renovations in subsequent dynasties. The existing structures include the Amitabha Hall and Guanyin Hall from the Jin Dynasty, the Vajra Hall from the Qing Dynasty, a reconstructed mountain gate, and the remaining buildings from the Ming Dynasty.
The Amitabha Hall, the main hall of Chongfu Temple, stands on a 2.5-meter-high platform. In terms of scale, it is second only to the Mahavira Hall of Huayan Temple among Jin Dynasty structures.
The hall's plaque, statues, murals, carved doors and windows, and glazed ridge ornaments are all original Jin Dynasty artifacts, collectively known as the "Five Wonders of the Jin Dynasty."
Foguang Temple was initially constructed during the Northern Wei Dynasty and rebuilt several times after being destroyed throughout history. The existing East Hall, rebuilt during the Tang Dynasty, is the largest and highest-grade Tang wooden structure still standing.
The East Hall exhibits typical Tang architectural style. Liang Sicheng described it as having "massive bracket sets and deeply overhanging eaves." It is the only existing ancient structure that uses only forked braces (chashou) under the ridge purlin.
The East Hall of Foguang Temple, along with its Tang statues, murals, and inscriptions, are collectively known as the "Four Wonders." Liang Sicheng hailed it as "the foremost treasure of ancient architecture in China."
The Manjusri Hall of Foguang Temple is the only existing overhanging gable roof structure from the Tang, Song, Liao, and Jin periods. The seven statues on the altar inside the hall exemplify typical Jin sculptural style and are the earliest existing set of Seven Manjusri statues.
The main hall of Nanchan Temple, built in 782 AD, has a history of over 1,200 years, making it the oldest wooden structure in China—75 years older than the East Hall of Foguang Temple.
The hall is supported by 12 eave columns that bear the roof's weight, while the walls serve only as partitions. The roof has the gentlest slope among all ancient Chinese buildings, reflecting distinct Tang characteristics.
The Tang statues enshrined in the hall are the earliest existing Buddhist sculptures in China outside the Mogao Caves and are extremely precious. Additionally, Nanchan Temple houses three stone lions and a stone pagoda, both relics from the Tang Dynasty.
The Wanfo Hall of Zhenguo Temple is a remnant of the Northern Han during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It exhibits strong Tang influence and uses fourth-grade timber as specified in the Yingzao Fashi. The ratio of bracket sets to column height exceeds 2:3, surpassing that of the East Hall of Foguang Temple.
The hall contains 11 painted sculptures from the Five Dynasties period, the only such works preserved in a temple hall nationwide.
Shuanglin Temple was established around the Northern Dynasties and originally named Zhongdu Temple. It was renamed Shuanglin Temple in the Song Dynasty. Its Tang-era locust tree, Song stele, Ming bell, murals, and painted sculptures are all rare treasures.
The most precious are its 2,056 painted clay sculptures, celebrated for their quantity, preservation, ingenious design, and exquisite craftsmanship. They are hailed as the "Treasury of Oriental Painted Sculpture Art."
Xiaoxitian Temple in Xi County, also known as Qianfo Nunnery, is a Buddhist Chan temple located atop Fenghuang Mountain west of Xi County, Linfen. It was founded in the second year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty.
Xiaoxitian Temple is relatively small in size, with 12 remaining halls. The most exquisite feature is the delicate hanging sculptures preserved in the Mahavira Hall. Within a space of only 169.6 square meters, over 1,030 colored sculptures are arranged around five main statues, hailed as the "masterpiece of hanging sculptures" in the history of Chinese sculptural art.
Guangsheng Temple boasts three unique treasures: the world's tallest glazed pagoda, the only Yuan Dynasty opera mural, and the "Zhaocheng Golden Tripitaka" discovered here—all extremely precious national treasures.
Feihong Pagoda is the largest and most complete glazed pagoda discovered in China to date that still bears inscriptions of craftsmen. Completed in the sixth year of the Ming Jiajing era (1527), the pagoda stands 47.31 meters tall. Above the second floor, the pagoda body is adorned with colorful glazed decorations, including dougong brackets, beams, lotuses, bodhisattvas, birds, animals, and other components and patterns. Each floor of the pagoda features a unique theme, ranging from celestial palaces to auspicious beasts like the qilin, all exquisitely crafted.
Behind Feihong Pagoda are three main halls, all wooden structures from the Ming Dynasty. Notably, the Amitabha Hall enshrines sculptures of the Three Saints of the West, and the Jin Dynasty Buddhist canon "Zhaocheng Tripitaka," which once astonished the world, was stored in the scripture cabinets on both sides of the hall.
The Mingying King Hall of the Water God Temple was built around 1320 during the Yuan Dynasty. The hall's walls are adorned with nearly 200 square meters of Yuan Dynasty murals, making it the only known ancient Chinese mural that does not depict Buddhist or Taoist themes.
According to stele records, it was built in the tenth year of the Ming Wanli era (1582) and renovated during the Qing Dynasty. The layout consists of two courtyards, facing west. It features a three-bay Heavenly King Hall, with bell and drum towers on both sides, and a Guanyin Hall at the front. The hall centers on a seated Guanyin surrounded by eighteen arhats, with twenty-four devas sculpted on both sides.
Be sure not to miss the most noteworthy colored sculptures in the Guanyin Hall: three small statues on the central beam, from right to left, Confucius, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Laozi, representing the ancient folk beliefs of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Surrounding them are nearly a thousand large and small sculptures, all hanging sculptures.
Qing Temple was first built in the Song Dynasty. Among the existing structures, the Thousand Buddha Hall is a relic from the Song Dynasty, the Three Great Bodhisattvas Hall from the Jin Dynasty, the Yama Hall from the Ming Dynasty, and the rest from the Qing Dynasty.
The sculptures of the Three Great Bodhisattvas and eighteen arhats in the Great Bodhisattvas Hall were originally created in the Northern Song Dynasty but were modified multiple times by later generations. The Three Great Bodhisattvas now reflect Ming and Qing techniques, but some of the eighteen arhat statues retain their original craftsmanship.
Qinglian Temple was built during the Northern Qi Tianbao era (550-559) by the eminent monks Tanshi and Huiyuan of the Northern Dynasties. It was expanded in subsequent dynasties after the Tang Dynasty and consists of two compounds: the Ancient Temple and the Upper Temple.
The Ancient Temple is located below, with a Tibetan-style brick stupa on the east side, built during the Ming Wanli era, which is the only remaining Tibetan-style pagoda in Jincheng City. On the west side is the stone tomb pagoda of Master Huifeng from the Tang Dynasty.
The main hall houses six Tang Dynasty sculptures: a seated Maitreya Buddha, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, disciples Ananda and Kasyapa, and an offering bodhisattva. These are among the three sets of over 70 existing Tang Dynasty temple sculptures in China, making them rare artistic treasures. The south hall contains 12 colored sculptures, five of which are from the Song Dynasty.
The居高临下的Yuhuang Temple is the largest Taoist temple in ancient Zezhou. Its exact founding date is unknown, but the existing structures date from the Song to Qing Dynasties. The temple houses colored sculptures from the Song, Jin, and Yuan periods, possessing exceptional artistic and cultural value.
The main hall, Yuhuang Hall, is a Jin Dynasty structure. The glazed components on the roof ridge feature sculptures of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, which shimmer brilliantly in sunlight. The southern eight bays of the west annex hall are dedicated to the Twenty-Eight Mansions, housing colored sculptures of these deities, believed to be the work of Yuan Dynasty sculptor Liu Yuan (also known as Liu Luan), with rich and profound facial expressions.
Ancient astronomers divided the visible stars in the sky into 28 groups, called the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Tang Dynasty五行家Yuan Tiangang further associated each mansion with an animal and appended one of the seven elements (sun, moon, metal, wood, water, fire, earth) to each mansion's name.
Based on this, the sculptures of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, combining human and animal forms, represent the pinnacle of ancient Chinese sculptural art. They are the only surviving example of such sculptures in China and are considered national treasures.
The founding date of Tiefo Temple is unknown. It was rebuilt during the Jin Dynasty with iron Buddha statues, and the existing structures are relics from the Ming Dynasty. The central and side walls of the hall feature altars, with a central sculpture of one Buddha and two bodhisattvas, flanked by twenty-four devas. The screen wall depicts Guanyin, with over 30 hanging sculptures illustrating stories from "Journey to the West," all from the Ming Dynasty.
Built in the late Northern Song Dynasty, the temple's Northern Song "Heavenly Palace Pavilion" miniature wooden structure and Song Dynasty sculptures are masterpieces, rare in the world.
Yongle Palace preserves four Yuan Dynasty wooden structures: the Dragon and Tiger Hall, the Sanqing Hall, the Chunyang Hall, and the Chongyang Hall. The architectural style incorporates the Yingzao Fashi methods and the column-reduction technique from the Liao and Jin periods.
Yongle Palace is known as the "Eastern Art Gallery." The "Chaoyuan Tu" mural in the Sanqing Hall depicts 290 Taoist deities paying homage to the Primordial天尊. This mural was completed in 1325, nearly 200 years before the European Renaissance.
As the hometown of Guan Yu, the Martial Saint, the Xiezhou Guan Temple in Yuncheng is the earliest built, largest, highest-ranked, and best-preserved Guan Temple and palace-style Taoist architectural complex in existence, acclaimed as the "Ancestor of Guan Temples."
The temple features exquisite wood, brick, and stone carvings, glazed tiles, iron castings, clay sculptures, and painted decorations. It also houses plaques inscribed by emperors, such as Kangxi’s "Righteousness Illuminates the Universe" and Qianlong’s "Divine Courage."
"The sun sets behind the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea. To see a thousand miles further, go up one more floor." The Guanque Tower, one of the "Four Great Towers of China" renowned by Wang Zhihuan’s timeless poem, was first built during the Northern Zhou Dynasty. After multiple destructions and reconstructions, the current structure is a Tang-style replica completed in 2002.
Fusheng Temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenguan era. Its buildings are tiered and well-proportioned, housing colorful sculptures from the Song, Jin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. The "Guanyin Crossing the Sea" in the main hall is a Song Dynasty colored suspended sculpture once hailed as the "Most Beautiful Guanyin."
Shisi Temple, dating back to the Southern Song’s Shaoxing era, preserves ancient pure wooden structures with characteristics from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
The temple grounds feature a 1,500-year-old king of Chinese cedars, towering into the clouds, known as the "Best in Asia."
To the left of the temple lies the Mei Clan Ancestral Hall, which also appears in games. Surrounded by towering mountains, flying waterfalls, and ancient trees, the temple is encircled by the clear Muhe Stream and a wooden corridor bridge, creating an elegant and serene environment.
Anyue Rock Carvings began in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and continued into the Five Dynasties. Over 100,000 statues have rested here for millennia.
Anyue’s statues "succeed Dunhuang and inspire Dazu," blending the simple, bold lines of Wei and Jin styles with the plump, dignified figures of the Tang Dynasty, along with the exquisite beauty of the Song and the delicacy of the Five Dynasties. It is one of the regions with the highest quality and density of Buddhist statues in Sichuan.
Anyue has over 200 rock carving sites under cultural protection. Unlike the scientifically preserved and developed famous grottoes such as Mogao and Yungang, many of Anyue’s carvings are scattered in remote villages or secluded mountains, requiring considerable effort to find.
The seven most representative sites are: Pilu Cave, Yuanjue Cave, Huayan Cave, Mingshan Temple, Sleeping Buddha Temple, Tapo Carvings, and Peacock Cave.
The Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing’s mountains, carved from the early Tang to the Ming and Qing dynasties, span millennia and represent the pinnacle of Chinese rock art. Alongside Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves, they form the "Northern Dunhuang, Southern Dazu" duo, and are Chongqing’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Compared to other grottoes, Dazu not only showcases the magnificence of "three thousand Buddhas appearing in clouds" but also features countless statues depicting local customs, blending Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian cultures. The fusion of worldly life and Buddhist essence creates a unique cultural tapestry of Dazu.
Dazu Rock Carvings refer to over 100 cliff carvings in the Dazu area. Five national-level sites—Baodingshan, Beishan, Nanshan, Shimenshan, and Shizhuanshan—are renowned for their grand scale, exquisite craftsmanship, diverse themes, rich内涵, and excellent preservation, representing the finest of Dazu’s carvings.
The Kaiyuan Temple Pagodas are located in Kaiyuan Temple on West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou. The west pagoda, "Renshou Pagoda," built between 1228 and 1237, stands 44.06 meters tall. The east pagoda, "Zhenguo Pagoda," built between 1238 and 1250, stands 48.24 meters tall.
The twin pagodas are covered with stone carvings, and the pearl finials bear inscriptions. Having stood for nearly 800 years, they have become an important landmark of Quanzhou and the Maritime Silk Road.
Chongsheng Temple was the royal temple of the Dali Kingdom. Only the Three Pagodas remain from ancient times; the temple was rebuilt later. The reflection of the Three Pagodas is one of Dali’s most famous "icons."
The main pagoda, Qianxun Pagoda, along with Xi’an’s Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, is a typical Tang structure. The two side pagodas are octagonal brick towers, each 70 meters from the main pagoda. A small exhibition hall in the garden displays some artifacts unearthed from the Three Pagodas.
Shuilu’an, located in Lantian County, Xi’an, is a Buddhist sanctuary renowned as the "World’s First Colored连环 Wall Sculpture."
It boasts the largest preserved group of wall sculptures in China, with over 3,700 clay statues hailed as "Wall Sculpture Treasures."
The Dule Temple in Ji County was hailed by Liang Sicheng as a "supreme national treasure." Despite its small size, it houses two precious wooden structures from the Liao Dynasty: the Mountain Gate with its far-reaching eaves and the solemn, sturdy Guanyin Pavilion, both rare treasures.
Inside the Guanyin Pavilion stands an eleven-faced Guanyin statue from the Liao Dynasty, which is the largest indoor sculpture discovered to date.
The Nan'an Temple Pagoda, located on the west side inside the south gate of Yu County, was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and renovated in the Liao Dynasty. Standing 32.1 meters tall, it is a 13-story, eight-sided, solid dense-eave brick pagoda with 13 tiers, representing the typical dense-eave brick pagoda style of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
The Yuhuang Pavilion, also known as the Jingbian Tower, was first built in the tenth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1377). Its main highlight is the principal hall, featuring a triple-eave hip-and-gable roof glazed with colored tiles. The main ridge is adorned with glazed floral patterns and glazed coiled dragons at both ends, topped with colorful clay sculptures of the Eight Immortals.
The hall's three walls are covered with original Ming Dynasty colored murals painted with gold-dusted relief techniques, depicting the "Thirty-Six Thunder Gods." The scenes are grand and vividly colored, appearing lifelike.