Digital heritage integration of Kunqu opera and Suzhou classical gardens

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) loses its foundation for preservation and transmission when separated from inheritors and material contexts. Most current 3D digitization of ICH focuses only on performers’ actions or artworks, neglecting their environments. This study proposes a “living documentation” paradigm that integrates Kunqu opera performances with Suzhou classical gardens using multi-camera arrays and Gaussian Splatting. By embedding ICH performance data into tangible heritage, we create an Integrated Digital Theater that enables photorealistic site-specific reenactments. Compared with VR content based on traditional photogrammetry and motion capture, this approach enhances audiences’ cultural understanding by linking performance with its historical setting. User studies show that the integrated representation improves spatiality, realism, and cultural wholeness, stimulating interest in Kunqu opera and Suzhou gardens simultaneously.