This study explores how Augmented Reality (AR) can revitalize rural visual culture through immersive design, using Shaoxing as a case. Integrating fieldwork, participatory workshops, and prototype development, it examines how AR transforms local symbols—bridges, waterways, and crafts—into interactive experiences that connect tradition and modernity. The proposed Immersive Countryside Design (ICD) model explains AR’s role as a cultural interface across three layers: symbolic translation, spatial immersion, and emotional resonance. Findings show that AR enhances belonging and empathy, reframing heritage as a living system and contributing to sustainable rural branding and design innovation in the post-digital era.

Ying Wu. Immersive Countryside Design through Augmented Reality in Shaoxing. The Frontiers of Society, Science and Technology (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 8: 1-6. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSST.2025.070801.

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