Self-Guided Augmented Reality Chinatown Walk

London’s Chinatown, and the area it sits in, has been the stage for a multitude of stories over its constantly evolving history. Augmented Chinatown 2.0 brings some of those stories to life in an immersive augmented reality experience which mixes striking visuals, miniature audio dramas, atmospheric music and a guided tour through the area’s past and present and how it became the centre of the Chinese community in London. Users start the tour in Newport Place and walk the streets guided by writer and narrator, Joel Tan. Over the course of an hour, Tan’s narration looks at Chinatown’s history, architecture and culture, as well as ideas about belonging, identity and migration. He evokes the sensory impact of the streets, the ornate decorations, the tempting smells and tastes, and distinctive sounds. He takes us to the four gates, only the last of which was created by Chinese artists, and tells how the iconic pagoda was demolished in 2015 without consultation. The app is available on Google Play and the App Store. This event is part of London Unseen and will be free to attend thanks to funding from the Mayor of London’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.