Notes:
Yunnan has rapidly emerged as a hub for digital human innovation in China, integrating AI, virtual avatars, and digital tourism. Key developments include the launch of “Caiyun,” Yunnan’s first virtual cultural tourism ambassador, and “Yun Shiyang,” the first virtual digital human native to the province. These avatars are built with technologies such as computer graphics, motion capture, speech synthesis, and deep learning. Collaborations with major tech firms like DingTalk and Xiaoice have produced high-fidelity digital hosts like “Zhumeng,” while Yunnan Mobile and China Telecom have introduced large-screen assistants and holographic AI hosts for elder care and tourism. Universities and tech firms in Yunnan are also developing AI finance models, educational avatars, and digital literacy initiatives. The region’s focus extends to public services, with AI-driven digital humans assisting in healthcare, consumer protection, and governance, often appearing at major exhibitions like the South Expo.
In the provincial capital Kunming, digital humans are being widely adopted across government, education, media, culture, healthcare, and commerce. Initiatives include the AI digital human “Wen Yiduo” created by Silicon-based Intelligence, which engaged in time-transcending dialogues with students. Events like the China Network Media Forum showcased local innovations involving digital avatars. Kunming also hosted the first annual conference of the Digital Humanities Professional Development Alliance, highlighting digital heritage and regional culture. AI hosts, such as “Wen Fei” created for the Kunming Meteorological Bureau, and digital employees like “Chun Xiao” for police services, are being deployed. Enterprises, universities, and startups are developing virtual avatars for marketing, education, livestreaming, public service, and exhibitions, often using local dialects and industry-specific models. Kunming’s presence at major expos, such as the China–South Asia Expo, has featured digital humans for tourism and business promotion. Institutions like Kunming Medical University and Yunnan Minzu University are applying digital humans in scientific education and 3D medical simulations. Companies like Kunming Xianbang and Origin Man Technology are leading AI avatar development for SMEs.
See also:
[Aug 2025]
2025
- July 31, 2025: Cloud Poetry Yang – Yunnan’s first virtual digital human plans to release an original song, perform ethnic dance, commentate competitions, host events, and livestream for Yunnan’s highland specialty agricultural products.
- July 25, 2025: Xiaoyuan AI Digital Human Project – Launch event for Funeng Seven-Color Yunnan Traceability Journey held with partners from across the country gathering in Kunming.
- July 20, 2025: Industrial and Commercial Bank Kunming Branch – AI intelligent assistant “Yun Xiaozhu” launched for legal consultation services using digital human technology.
- July 4, 2025: Yunnan Tourism Vocational College – Information Engineering School visited Baidu Smart Cloud (Guangnan) Digital Economy Industrial Base to explore digital human applications in the metaverse.
- June 25, 2025: Yunnan Medical Insurance – AI digital human technology introduced to the provincial medical insurance public service platform for intelligent processing.
- June 19, 2025: Yunnan Medical Insurance Public Service Platform – Partnered with AI to integrate intelligent voice, human-computer interaction, medical insurance large language models and virtual digital humans.
- May 23, 2025: Yunnan Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Conference – Shared achievements in AI robots, 3D digital humans and generative AI technologies in Hangzhou.
- April 18, 2025: Yunnan Network – Officially released Yunnan’s first virtual digital human “Yun Shiyang”.
- March 17, 2025: Yunnan Financial Consumer Protection – AI digital human image displayed publicly for the first time during the “3·15” financial consumer rights protection education campaign in Kunming, featuring 6 digital human representatives.
- February 19, 2025: SenseTime Technology – Won bid to build smart infrastructure for Kunming, injecting strong momentum into digital transformation for Kunming and entire Yunnan Province.
- February 16, 2025: China Unicom – Used AI technology to empower ethnic music inheritance, generating virtual image of Naxi singer Dapo Maji through high-precision digital human modeling and AI voice replication technology.
- January 2, 2025: Tencent Cloud Intelligence – Created 3D digital human “Xiao Caiyun” for Yunnan Radio and Television Station, combining digital human and large model technology for broadcasting.
2024
- September 8, 2024: BlueOcean Creative Cloud and Yunnan Meteorological Bureau launched the AI digital host “Wen Fei,” marking the first AI digital weather host in the country.
- September 8, 2024: The virtual digital human “Dali Xiaojinhua” made her debut at the 2024 “Colorful China” Dali National Film Week (September 5-9), developed by the Dali government and a digital operations company.
- July 30, 2024: Yunnan Construction and Investment Group, in collaboration with DingTalk, unveiled their AI digital human “Zhumeng” at the 8th China-South Asia Expo held in Kunming from July 23-28.
- April 2, 2024: The 2024 China Internet Media Forum took place in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, from March 30-31, highlighting digital human technology among 14 AI projects showcased.
2023
- November 20, 2023: MoFa Technology and Yunnan Tengyun Information Industry Co., Ltd. entered into a strategic partnership to create China’s first national AI virtual human cultural and tourism demonstration project, focusing on 3D virtual human digital cultural tourism including scenic tour guide training and services.