Step Into the World of “Journey to the West” with ChatBook

The National Library Board (NLB) is bringing Chinese literary classics to life with two new interactive Nodes launched at United Square and Changi Airport Terminal 3. These innovative hubs offer an immersive way to experience timeless stories, blending modern technology with cultural heritage.

Discover “Journey to the West” Through ChatBook

At the heart of these Nodes is ChatBook: Journey to the West, NLB’s first Generative AI-powered ChatBook for Chinese literature. This interactive feature allows users to engage with iconic characters from Wu Cheng’en’s classic 16th-century novel Journey to the West.

Visitors of all ages can speak into a microphone or type on a keyboard to converse with characters like Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. Responses are delivered in Chinese audio, accompanied by bilingual text in Chinese and English onscreen. Drawing directly from the novel, this experience offers a dynamic way to explore one of the Four Great Chinese Classical Works, making it accessible and engaging for both young and old.

Interactive Storytelling with StoryGen

The Nodes also feature StoryGen, an AI-powered storytelling service that reimagines familiar tales. Patrons can explore a mix of Chinese Classics like “Sun Wukong Defeats the White Bone Spirit” and “Filial Daughter Hua Mulan,” as well as global favorites such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Wizard of Oz. With customizable characters and settings, StoryGen creates immersive visual experiences that bring these narratives to life, sparking creativity and curiosity in readers of all ages.

Inspiring a Love for Reading and Learning

Through interactive storytelling, NLB aims to ignite a passion for reading, especially among children. Visitors can borrow Journey to the West books on-site, alongside a curated selection of Chinese Classic eBooks in both Mandarin and English from NLB’s extensive collection.

Curated list of Chinese Classics in NLB’s eReads on the NLB Mobile app at United Square

Exploring the Potential of AI

Beyond storytelling, the Nodes also serve as an educational platform for understanding Generative AI. Visitors can explore NLB’s Read to be S.U.R.E. resources, which teach critical digital literacy skills like evaluating AI-generated content. Display panels explain how AI works, offering insights into both its possibilities and challenges.

Supported by Amazon Web Services and Huawei Cloud, these prototypes showcase the transformative potential of technology in promoting literature and cultural appreciation.

Head to United Square or Changi Airport Terminal 3 today to step into the world of Journey to the West and explore the future of storytelling.