When Game Science released Black Myth: Wukong in August 2024, they didn't just make a game. They built a love letter to Chinese sacred architecture. Of the 36 real-world locations featured, 27 are in Shanxi Province. The game uses photogrammetry — actual photographs mapped onto 3D models — meaning the temples you walk through as the Destined One are the same temples you can stand inside today.
Xiaoxitian Temple saw its annual visitors jump from 30,000 to 1.25 million in under a year. The demand is real. Here's what you need to know before you go.
You Can't Visit All 27. Here's What to Prioritize.
A full pilgrimage to every game location takes 12–14 days and covers a geographic triangle from Datong to Yuncheng to Jincheng. Most travelers don't have two weeks. Our six-day route covers 10 S-tier sites — the ones that deliver the strongest game-to-reality impact:
Yungang Grottoes (Datong): UNESCO World Heritage. 51,000 Buddhist statues carved into sandstone cliffs. The colossal Buddha in Cave 20 is the game's Chapter 1 backdrop. Morning light is best.
Hanging Temple (Hunyuan): A 1,500-year-old temple bolted into a sheer cliff face. The game's trailer opens with it. Climbing tickets sell out — we book 7 days ahead.
Foguang Temple (Wutai): China's largest surviving Tang Dynasty wooden structure. Liang Sicheng, the father of Chinese architectural history, called it "the First National Treasure." The game's ancient temple interiors draw directly from its bracket sets and beam structures.
Xiaoxitian (Linfen): The single most photographed location. Over 1,000 miniature Buddha figures suspended from the ceiling. The game's floating statues are a direct reference. This temple went from 30,000 visitors per year to 1.25 million.
The Practical Reality
These sites are not connected by public transit. English is essentially non-existent. WeChat mini-programs — the only way to book tickets for several sites — require Chinese ID verification. A private English-speaking guide with a car is not a luxury here. It's the difference between seeing the temples and staring at a closed gate.
Our guide Zhao Ming is a former archaeologist who worked on the Yungang excavation and has played the game. He can tell you which beam in Foguang Temple appears in which boss fight. See the full 6-day itinerary.
Best Time to Go
April–May and September–October. Shanxi winters drop to -20°C and some rural temples close. July–August brings domestic tourism crowds. Avoid National Day (October 1–7) at all costs — Xiaoxitian gets 91,000 visitors in a single week.