The China Pavilion, located in the National Library of Kazakhstan, opened on Friday, Aug. 26, becoming an important part of the “Experience China” cultural activity underway in the central Asia country. Built by Chongqing, it was planned in two months and built from the ground up in one month, surprising Kazakhstan. But inside the pavilion, more surprises awaited.

One of the biggest surprises was the virtual reality night tour of Chongqing. Knowing that VR is the hottest new technology, Chongqing wanted to incorporate this technology into the experience to let visitors to the pavilion learn about the mountain city in an exciting new way. Just put on the VR glasses, and poof—you can fly around Chongqing, experience the city’s heavy traffic in 360 degrees, and see the dazzling nightscape. No license or goggles required.

The pavilion also includes a library of classical works if you want to get to know the history of Chongqing, and there are plans to translate Chinese books for the people of Kazakhstan. The pavilion provides a rich experience, both modern and traditional. Visitors can practice calligraphy or learn about Chinese tea ceremony. There are games too, to challenge curious minds and to test knowledge about China.

Chongqing wants people to see its culture. When visitors walk into the China Pavilion, they are greeted by a huge Chinese dragon. This dragon is not a painting or digital graphic, but a lifelike creation made from cardboard. So lifelike, in fact, some visitors are startled.