A historic crusade

Tomb of Mi Heng, a Chinese writer and musician who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty in Wuhan, Hubei province.[Photo provided to China Daily]

About 1,800 years have passed since the Three Kingdoms period, and it's hard to identify whether some sites purporting to be from that time are genuine. However, Yuan doesn't think this is a problem.

"Of course few genuine historical sites remain, like the tomb of Cao Cao, a warlord of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, identified by archaeological studies. Many others were built in the later dynasties to honor people of the Three Kingdoms period, like the numerous Guandi temples located around China to commemorate legendary general Guan Yu.

"Just as late Three Kingdoms expert Shen Bojun once said, 'Most of the sites we regard as being from the Three Kingdoms period today are actually not left from that time, but gradually formed in the later long history about it.' When we visit the 'fake' sites, we can get to know the spread and changes of Three Kingdoms stories, and the broadness of its culture," says Yuan.

As a result, he tries to label all the possible sites he knows on the mini program. He also plans to add more information, including introductions and pictures for all of the sites he has labeled so far.

"He has a genuine love for the Three Kingdoms period. Although he is neither a professional expert in this area, nor a specialist in literature or history, he has kept the hobby and insisted on doing so many things," says Cheng.

"There are numerous Three Kingdoms enthusiasts from all walks of life making contributions to digging into, and promoting, the culture of it. Maybe that is an important reason why the Three Kingdoms culture is still very popular today," he adds.