Prototyping a Mobile AR Based Multi-user Guide System for Yuanmingyuan Garden

Based on the recent developments in the field of augmented reality(AR) and mobile phone platform, a multi-user guide system for Yuanmingyuan Garden is designed. The proposed system integrates real environment and virtual scene through the ways of entertainment and gaming in the mobile phone, so that the brilliant royal garden in the ancient time can be rebuilt onsite. By the interactive ways of scene reconstruction and scenario setting, its users can not only be guided to appreciate the current views of the Yuanmingyuan Garden, but also experience the glory and the vicissitudes of the ancient Chinese garden cultures. The proposed system brings novel ways of entertainment to the sightseeing trip of the visitors, and the visitors will be benefited from the learning of the cultural sites and the cultural histories. In this paper, the prototype of the mobile AR application of Yuanmingyuan garden has been presented. The proposed system is still at its early stage and requires further development. However, the novel concepts proposed in this system will bring people with inspirations for the integration of advanced AR technology to the tourism industry.