(Yicai) Aug. 26 -- Just days after its release, fans of Black Myth: Wukong are flocking to the historic locations in China that feature in the hit action role-playing game, with many keen to see for themselves if the actual places match their virtual representations.

The number of visitors to locations in northwestern Shanxi province that are used in Black Myth: Wukong surged 156 percent on Aug. 20, the day of the game’s launch, from a year earlier, according to data from on-demand services giant Meituan. The Yungang Grottoes, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, and Stork Tower were the most popular destinations.

Of the 36 notable historic settings used in Black Myth: Wukong, 27 are in Shanxi, including the Jade Emperor Temple, Chongfu Buddhist Temple, Iron Buddha Temple, and Shuanglin Temple.

Black Myth: Wukong is heavily inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and centers on the adventures of the legendary character Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, as he faces off against mythical creatures and powerful deities. Developed by Guangdong province-based Game Science, the title sold 10 million copies in the first three days.

Tourist traffic at the Wooden Tower Scenic Area in Yingxian in Shanxi soared due to it being used in Black Myth: Wukong, according to Wang Xiaoqing, new media manager at the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. Daily visitor numbers climbed to a record 14,000 to 15,000 after the game was released, up from about 10,000 in previous years, Wang told Yicai.

Admirers of historic architecture or the Liao and Jin dynasties were the main visitors to the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda in past years, but the game has brought more young tourists to the attraction in recent days, Wang pointed out.

Promotional materials for tourist sites in Shanxi and Xi'an that appear as settings in Black Myth: Wukong has surged on Meituan's crowd-sources review app Dianping, with the number of user posts and views nearly doubling. The topic Black Myth Spots Check-in Tour ranked in the top 10 on the app within two days of the game's debut.

Editor: Martin Kadiev