As an expert who has spent years dissecting the convergence of deep learning and distributed systems, Dominic Jainy offers a unique perspective on the digital metamorphosis of one of the world’s oldest civilizations. In this conversation, we delve into the recent technological overhaul of Xi’an’s Datang Everbright City, exploring how a blend of 5G-Advanced networks and multimodal AI is solving the massive connectivity hurdles of modern tourism while honoring ancient history. The discussion highlights the shift from basic connectivity to intelligent, service-oriented infrastructure that bridges the gap between the Tang Dynasty and the high-speed digital era. We cover the technical architecture of 3CC aggregation, the logistical artistry required to install hundreds of network devices in a historic district, and the massive training effort behind the culture-specific BoGuan AI model.
When we look at a site like Datang Everbright City, which can see a sudden influx of over 200,000 visitors, the demand on the network is staggering. How exactly does the move to a 5G-A network with three-component carrier aggregation handle that massive surge in high-definition content creation?
The sheer density of people in such a concentrated space creates a digital “gridlock” that standard networks simply cannot navigate. By implementing 3CC carrier aggregation, we are essentially merging several spectrum lanes into a single, massive data superhighway that can support download speeds of up to 3.5 Gbps. This isn’t just about speed for the sake of it; it’s about the 600 Mbps to 900 Mbps uplink rates that allow thousands of visitors to simultaneously stream high-definition performances or upload 4K videos without a stutter. You can almost feel the “breath” of the network as it manages the traffic from 219 different cells, ensuring that the excitement of a live cultural show isn’t lost to a spinning loading icon. It transforms the site from a passive observation deck into a live, interactive broadcast hub where the air is thick with invisible but incredibly powerful data streams.
Xi’an is a city where history is etched into every stone, making it nearly impossible to just throw up traditional cellular towers. What were the specific strategies used to deploy the 46 NR sites and 31 5G-A sites without ruining the historic aesthetic of the district?
This was perhaps the most delicate part of the entire project, balancing the cold hardware of 179 RRU devices against the warm, ancient architecture of a cultural landmark. The engineers had to treat the installation more like a surgical procedure than a construction job, utilizing a mix of macro and micro base stations to maintain a low visual profile. They meticulously placed equipment where it could provide continuous coverage across the attraction while remaining nearly invisible to the untrained eye. It is a fascinating juxtaposition where the cutting-edge 5G-A layer is supported by standard 5G infrastructure, hidden within the very fabric of the historic district. The goal was to ensure that when a visitor looks up, they see the beautiful eaves of a Tang-style building, not a cluster of antennas, even though they are standing in one of the most connected spots on Earth.
The BoGuan AI model is being hailed as a dedicated cultural system rather than just another chatbot. What does it mean for a system to be trained on 1.2 petabytes of cultural data, and how does that change the way a tourist interacts with heritage?
When you train a multimodal large language model on 1.2 petabytes of data, you aren’t just feeding it text; you are giving it the visual and auditory memory of a civilization. This massive dataset includes millions of images, audio files, and even 3D models that allow the AI to “understand” the structural and historical nuances of Xi’an’s heritage assets. For a tourist using the Go-Shaanxi app, this means the AI can answer complex questions about an artifact or help build a custom itinerary that adapts in real-time as their interests change. By March, this system had already reached over four million users, proving that people crave a deeper, more intelligent connection to the sites they visit. It moves the experience away from static placards and toward a living, breathing digital companion that knows the history of every stone and shadow in the city.
We are seeing a lot of buzz around the Zhiying Camera and its ability to blend modern photos with historic scenes. How do these types of AI-driven creative tools impact the emotional connection a visitor has with a historical site?
The Zhiying Camera is a perfect example of how we can use generative AI to bridge the gap between the present and a thousand years ago. By combining a visitor’s real-time photo with AI-generated historic backgrounds, it allows them to see themselves as a part of Xi’an’s storied past, creating a personalized souvenir that feels much more intimate than a generic postcard. This sensory blending of “then” and “now” helps visitors internalize the history they are witnessing, making the educational aspect of the trip feel like a creative adventure. Beyond just the fun of the photos, this technology also helps museums and artisans with digital preservation and content creation, though there is a careful balance to maintain regarding the authenticity of traditional craftsmanship. It is about injecting new momentum into the industry so that ancient culture remains relevant and exciting for a generation that lives through their screens.
What is your forecast for the future of intelligent tourism as networks shift from being simple transport systems to providers of integrated digital services?
I believe we are entering an era where the network itself becomes the “operating system” of a city’s tourism economy. In the coming years, we will see these 5G-A infrastructures move beyond Xi’an to other global heritage sites, where the network doesn’t just carry data but actively generates value through localized AI services and real-time monetization models. Operators will no longer be satisfied with just providing bars of signal; they will become essential partners in digital preservation, using 5G-A to power everything from augmented reality ghost tours to automated crowd management. As AI continues to digest petabytes of cultural records, the “intelligent service” layer will become so seamless that the distinction between the physical world and the digital information overlay will virtually disappear. This shift will fundamentally change the economics of telecom, turning every major tourist attraction into a high-tech testbed for how humanity interacts with its own history through the lens of artificial intelligence.