Kaizhong Cao holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University. He is an Associate Professor of Design and a doctoral supervisor at Communication University of China, where he is also recognized as a Young Distinguished Scholar. His research has long focused on digital scene-making for historical and cultural sites. He serves on the Young Editorial Boards of Time + Architecture and Landscape Architecture. He is also a Council Member of the Architectural Society of China, a Member of the Public Art Committee of the Beijing Urban Planning Society, a Young Member of the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture, and a Member of the Digital Art Committee of the China Artists Association.
Mingyan Zhang is affiliated with the Communication University of China. Her research focuses on digital imaging and explores how digital technologies, gamified interaction, and digital storytelling can facilitate the interpretation and communication of cultural meaning. Her research interests include user experience design, digital cultural heritage, interactive storytelling, and technology-mediated cultural engagement.
Corresponding Author:
Qianhui Wang, Communication University of China
Reimagining a Princely Mansion as Playable Art: Interactive Puzzles for Nighttime Heritage Interpretation
FROG 2026 – Talk
Nighttime cultural heritage tourism often prioritizes spectacle over meaningful engagement, yet the intersection of game design and cultural heritage offers a powerful alternative: transforming architectural ensembles into playable worlds. This paper investigates whether interactive puzzle mechanisms can enable visitors to experience Prince Gong‘s Mansion—a Qing dynasty princely residence whose layered history spans Heshen, Prince Qing, and Prince Gong—as a participatory cultural narrative.
Grounded in embodied cognition and sensory interaction theory, we present a three-phase mixed-methods study. First, a comparative analysis of twelve nighttime heritage projects across five countries yields five design strategy dimensions. Second, we develop a complete design specification for Prince Gong‘s Mansion in Beijing, comprising six puzzle-driven interactive nodes that translate architectural elements—the Western Gate, the Grand Theatre, the Rear Pavilion, and the Fu Stele—into game mechanics. Third, user testing with 40 visitors evaluates the experience.
Results demonstrate that culturally anchored puzzles significantly enhance visitors’ interpretive engagement (Cohen‘s d = 1.58) and emotional connection with the mansion’s historical and artistic layers. The nighttime setting further amplifies focus and sensory immersion. We discuss ethical considerations including cultural authenticity, accessibility, and data privacy.
This work contributes an empirically validated framework for transforming heritage sites into playable art experiences, demonstrating how game design can mediate cultural meaning-making rather than merely providing entertainment. It responds directly to FROG 2026‘s inquiry into how art becomes playable—and how play can deepen our understanding of art.